Dead week, or the week without classes, tests or organization meetings, will take place all over the nation this week at many universities, but Georgia Southern University will not participate.

Some universities, like Purdue University and Iowa State University participate in university quiet hours. GSU also follows this trend.

“All housing has 24 hour quiet hours starting on Sunday night. We have to go around and enforce it,” Tracy Bardugon, Centennial community leader and junior business major, said.

“The University System of Georgia Board of Regents requires the university to provide a specific number of hours of instruction each semester,” Provost Jean Bartels, said. “These requirements make it necessary to conduct classes all weeks of the semester including the week before finals.”

The Georgia Institute of Technology officially deemed the week previously known as “the week preceding final exams” to “dead week” in 2010.

Many other universities participate in this week, especially colleges that have traditions surrounding yelling and screaming. At the University of Southern California, a tradition known as “Primal SCream,” occurs when students shout out of their dorm room windows. At Columbia University, students open their windows and shout as loud as possible the midnight before Monday morning exams.

While GSU does not officially promote a dead week, student organizations and university housing have events to help students take their mind off final stress.

“Housing hosts little workshops and has free coffee a couple of nights, but it isn’t the same as having extra time to do your classwork,” Becki Bury, Eagle Village community assistant and senior psychology major, said.

“Sure, maybe housing would do more if we had a professional staff. But at the end of the day, we’re students first,” Chakeira Gilbert, Eagle Village community leader and senior business management major, said.

“A number of the colleges along with the Student Health Center and Student Affairs have educational programs and activities to promote student health and well-being all through the academic year,” Bartels said.

GSU students feel that a dead week may be beneficial.

“I have a lot of homework due this week, and professors are still trying to teach us new material, even though finals are next week. I have no time to study,” Aubrey Ricketson, freshman international business major, said.

“I have three quizzes, three homework assignments and then a test right before my final. It would be nice to get some time off,” Megan Williams, freshman fashion merchandising major, said.

While many students feel that a dead week would be convenient, some also see negative outcomes.

“I think a dead week sounds like a good idea, but then some people would just use the time to party even more,” Candyce Asby, freshman psychology major, said.

In a written statement, Georgia Tech declined to comment.