With most students returning to classes within the past two weeks, syllabus week is on the minds of many. It comes around twice a year, once per semester: Syllabus Week! Syllabus Week is the first week of the semester when syllabi are passed out. For students, this can be one of the most wonderful times of the year, but it does not come without a struggle or two. Here are some things that happen whenever Syllabus Week Comes around.

Syllabustering

This is the academic equivalent of a filibuster. A filibuster is when a member of Congress takes the floor to talk uninterrupted for as long as they can to force action, such immediate Syllabustering is when a professor filibusters for an entire class period only talking about the contents of the syllabus. There may be attempts to scare students away by making the class seem daunting or too difficult. Typically, the syllabustering that takes place during the first week of classes is a reason why the first week of school may be stress free for some.

Welcome Back Parties

If you ever need a reason to have a party, just ask a college student. First week of classes? Let's have a party. Last week of classes? Let's have a party. No classes? Let's have a party. Welcome back parties and get-togethers with friends are always enjoyable after being away for break.

New Semester Resolutions

Almost identical to the idea of New Year Resolutions. Promises like "I will study more" or "Spend more time focusing on this" are commonly made at the start of semesters.

The Game of Musical Classes

You have to take a class, but the professor does not see eye to eye with you. "Wait! is there another section?!" Even though schedules are set ahead of time in the previous semester, there are times where something does not work out and last minute changes need to be made at the beginning of the semester.

Textbooks

The mad rush for textbooks can be compared to shoppers on Black Friday. Frenzied students search for the best deals for textbooks on campus and online. New or used? Buy or rent? Online or in store? Do we need an online access code?! The list of questions when searching for textbooks is seemingly endless.

A Professor Starting Right Away

First day of class, the professor is going to syllabuster, right? Wrong. There is that professor that jumps right into the material of the class on the first day of class. Then he or she looks at students who have not yet purchased the textbook like they are crazy.