In a formal letter written to Vice Chancellor, Al Bloom, several hundred NYU Abu Dhabi students requested a week without class halfway through the semester to rest and recover for the hellscape that is Spring 2. Specifically, students complained that they were too exhausted after spring break to return to class. With no comment from the administration, the future of this potential hiatus remains unclear.

“It’s just not fair!” explained Frederick Hermes, Class of 2021. “How can they expect us to finish midterms and spring break back to back – two of the busiest weeks – then go right back into class? Don’t they know how stressful and exhausting travel can be? We deserve some time off.”

Indeed, the majority of NYUAD students spend spring break galavanting off to whatever middle-income country has the cheapest airfare on FlyDubai. So many students go abroad that each year at least one country’s immigration website crashes when NYUAD’s entire population applies for a tourist visa at the last possible moment. Responding to the pressure, the governments of Georgia, Jordan, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, Egypt and Tanzania have all considered adding a separate passport check line for NYUAD students travelling on spring break.

It remains unclear however, how most students finance these adventures. Dean of Students, Kale Parsley, tells every Marhaba cohort that their stipend isn’t meant for a trip to Petra. Though given the recent number of Petra-centered Instagram stories, it could be speculated that many are ignoring his recommendation. But since no NYUAD student would so blatantly blow off the administration, the funds behind this travel remain unknown in origin.

Regardless, each semester students find a way to haphazardly hop Airbnbs every 48 hours until their brains turn to yogurt and their muscles turn to string cheese. Returning to campus the day before classes begin leaves many unprepared for the second half of the semester.

“That’s why we wrote the letter to Al Bloom,” remarked Class of 2020 student Vaughn Boyage, “spring break is just too physically and emotionally demanding, but it’s a necessary part of being a Global Leader™. If only we had time set aside during the semester to relax. It’s a shame we’re forced into such a draining and oppressive existence.”

When suggested that they instead plan a more restful and responsible break experience, many students reacted quite defensively, “Spring break is about running away from your responsibilities, not dealing with them!” said Class of 2019 student, Dania L. Statuf, “What do you expect us to do? Stay on campus like filthy peasants?”

With no word yet from the administration, it seems that neither side is prepared to budge. For the foreseeable future, it seems students will continue to complain about the reckless sacrifices they’re forced to make by the school that enables their travelcholism.