K-State students prepare for Wildcat Pause Day as opinions differ on timing
Kansas State University students will get a break from classes Friday, Oct. 9, as the university observes Wildcat Pause Day, an initiative designed to give students and employees time to focus on their well-being.
Wildcat Pause Day was introduced in fall 2024 as part of a three-year pilot program. This year, the university moved the fall break to Friday, placing it just ahead of Homecoming Week.
For K-State senior Sarabeth Martin, the break comes as a welcome opportunity to step away from a busy schedule. Between balancing a demanding course load, working two jobs and participating in multiple campus clubs, Martin said having a day without classes gives students a chance to recharge.
“I think Wildcat Pause Day is a really great thing. I think it offers students the ability to go home and relax or take some time off from school and go and visit some friends, go and visit their family. I think it allows students to just have a break from classes and really allow them to reset and gather themselves before the rest of the semester."
While some students appreciate the opportunity to take a break, others question whether the timing of Wildcat Pause Day makes it as beneficial as intended.
With the day falling on a Friday, students who already have lighter schedules at the end of the week may not experience much of a difference. Others, like KSU junior Maggie Lesmeister, say assignments and deadlines leading up to the break can make it difficult to fully step away from schoolwork.
“I just feel like a lot of teachers are going to make my assignments due on Thursday anyways, so I mean, like, what’s the point of the break if I already have things due? It just doesn’t always feel like a break.”
The differing perspectives highlight the challenges of creating a university-wide break that meets the needs of students with varying schedules and responsibilities.
More than 6,400 people participated in Wildcat Pause Day surveys last year, providing feedback as K-State continues evaluating the three-year pilot program.
Whether students spend Friday catching up on assignments, traveling home to visit family or simply relaxing, Wildcat Pause Day offers a day away from the classroom. However, for some students, the question remains whether a different day on the calendar would make the break more meaningful.
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