Lorenz has plans to travel to California during the long weekend but she said the thought of work would follow her on vacation.

"I have an exam a few days after we come back," she said. "I'll do some on the plane, but I really won't have time to do work."

Joseph Keiser, professor of general chemistry labs, said students need to understand that work for them also means work for professors.

"Education is the only situation in which the consumer is happier to receive less for their money," he said. "Students should be thankful that some faculty, when faced with the choice of giving more or less work, choose more for their students because it means they really care."

Keiser said the heavy workloads all fall into the same time frame because most professors want two or three major assignments scheduled throughout a semester.

Tim Ogden (freshman-engineering) had classes canceled today and said he is appreciative because he had an exam and a paper due yesterday.

"I have an 8 a.m., but then I'm done," Ogden said. "I really don't mind the early class because my afternoon lab was canceled so that's good."

He said all of the last minute work he encountered was stressful, but his break is going to be even more eventful.

"I'm going to see my family, go to a wedding and then go hunting," Ogden said. "I have no time for rest and relaxation, but I don't mind because at least it's not work."

While Ogden finished his work and is excited for an action-packed break, others are looking to finish their work and go home for rest and relaxation.

Mark Haas (junior-management information systems) said he has had a rough semester but doesn't have much work left this week, which is a change.

"The football season was bad; it's cold. It has been a sort of depressing semester," he said.

Haas said he is unmotivated to go to class because the break is so promising, but he has one last exam before he is home free.

"I'm not a big fan," Haas said. "I want to leave right now, but I can't because I have this test. I don't know why they didn't give [the exam] last week."

Andrew Beatty (freshman-nuclear and mechanical engineering) agrees that professors are giving a lot of work at once.

"It really seems like they're cramming a lot of work into the last couple of days," Beatty said. "I had two tests last week, a quiz, a project and a quiz tonight."

Beatty said his break officially begins tomorrow when he leaves his residence hall.

No matter what students have to think about before or after break, Thanksgiving dinner weighs heavily on the minds of every college student.

"I eat nothing up here but french fries and burgers," Haas said. "I'm glad to trade those in for some turkey and mashed potatoes."

Amanda Leister (senior-marketing) said she is ready for some good old-fashioned home cooking.

"I am definitely looking forward to the food," she said. "I live off campus so I do most of my own cooking and it's pretty poor."