Sign on the line and we'll give you the money, and then we'll be fine and we'll fly somewhere sunny

Our Director Writes: 

Diary of a Mature Student: Heat Week One

There's something I've been meaning to write about for a while now, and it's what could technically be referred to as the Dewey Paradox; 

The level of activity of a student library exists in direct relation to the approaching deadlines

In week zero, campus is empty other than staff members (although not faculty members, necessarily, because... why?), P.h.D students, researchers and the few dedicated or bored students who like the peace and quiet. 

Week zero is a magical place. Reports are even cited of unicorns emerging from their burrows to take advantage of the opportunity to frolic across the main campus square before the students arrive, although this could be put down to either the faculty sense of humour, the prevalence of psychedelic drugs in some areas, or simply overdoses of the bad coffee served by the on-campus shops. 

Week one isn't too different; traditionally an introduction week, week one is designed to act as an academic airlock, equalising the pressure between moving back from wherever home is and starting the semester anew. No courses have yet pulled the devious trick of making week one actually key to the following twelve to fourteen, because, in all probability, it wouldn't work; attendance is traditionally high, however. 

This is because, largely, the dropoff begins in week two. Some people attend week one as a taster for the course, knowing that they can sign off at any point before the end of week two, so that accounts for some natural drop. Other drops are accounted for by people being able to access the necessary materials online (and so not needing the lecture), being ill, being unable to attend, or being lazy. 

This reaches an apex at week six, for no reason other than it's traditionally slump week. Last year, week one of a mandatory course yielded 140 students. By week six, this was down to 60. 

Fortunately, this is the most impressive dropoff so far. (But give it time). 

So if you're ever bored, and want to find out how close a deadline is, visit the library. Granted, in this brave new world, people have a tendency of downloading the books, or just using internet sources, but there still seems to be no substitute for filling a room with hundreds of books then letting stressed students loose therein. Apparently, it's just fun.