This letter is in response to "Duke eliminates 8 a.m. classes; Penn State will not (April 20)":

This particular piece seems to be just another log on the fire as Penn State students strive to stay in bed as late as possible. Let me first state that I, too, love sleeping as late as possible, especially after a long night of drinking. But, little do some of you realize, Dear Old State may actually be doing you a small favor by forcing you out of bed at 7:45 a.m., twice a week, for a semester or two of your collegiate career. As a graduating senior, I begin my professional career in June. The boss has told me to be there bright and early at 7 a.m. every day, for the rest of my life. Not all of us have the flexibility that Peter Gibbons did when he told Bill Lumberg that he just didn't feel like working anymore.

I wish I could say that I speak for myself when I mention that I will be rising from the sheets around 6 every morning, but you other seniors and working folk can relate. So, let's really think about what President Graham Spanier and the folks in the bell tower want for us. They want to give a tiny taste of what it's like to see the sunrise, leaving you the option to still make it back to the dorms in time for Jerry Springer. They want to provide you with some flexibility in scheduling so that you hopefully don't have to climb down from your loft five days a week before noon. Most importantly, they're trying to get a head start on the day so that classes don't run until 7:30 p.m. every night.

So, for the Dukies and Coach K down in Durham: enjoy your sleep. We here in Happy Valley will be roaming the streets until 3 a.m., only to still be awakened by the Old Main bells at 8 a.m.