Duke latest university to give students 'wellness days' instead of spring break

Instead of getting a whole week off, students got Tuesday and Wednesday off as "wellness days." They will get another day off on April 12.

While many students are using the time to focus on their mental health after months of distancing, remote learning and pandemic-related stress, some still made plans to leave the area. The university requires students to fill out a travel registry report online when planning to travel.

“It is only two days off of class. We’re still trying to make the most of it, but it still isn’t like super-conducive to a long traveling break," senior Darcy Blaylock said.

Junior Sydney Gaviser recalled how life suddenly changed during 2020 spring break.

"My friends and I were out to dinner in Miami, and we got this email that was like, OK, no more school," Gaviser said. "We were like, 'Oh well, we only have summer clothes here,' and I live in New York and it’s cold there so, like, what to do now."

This year, Gaviser is staying on campus.

“We’re kind of just hanging out here, enjoying the weather, taking a walk," she said.

Even though Duke officials discouraged students from traveling this year, several hundred have filed travel plans. They all will have to get tested upon their return and quarantine for at least 48 hours until test results are confirmed.

“Duke definitely encouraged us to not leave campus. Even though people are starting to get vaccinated and cases are starting to go down day by day it’s still kind of dangerous right now," Blaylock said.

Still, student Isabelle Adeler said she worries about the impact on campus when students who did leave the area come back later in the week.

"I don’t really know what the difference is between going with, like, over 10 people to Miami and with going with 10 people to an off-campus party and, like, not getting in trouble for going to Miami because you filed it with Duke," Adeler said. "Honestly, just because you filed a report doesn’t make it any better. If anything, it’s worse because people can go to Miami and go clubbing or whatever."

“I think these next couple of months will definitely be telling as to how much we can actually kind of sustain it until we are like completely in the clear," Blaylock said.