Due to a recent change in university scheduling, Miami University students will have a slightly shorter summer than they have had in the past.

The first day of class for the fall 2007 semester will be Monday, Aug. 20, whereas in the past, Miami has traditionally started classes on a Tuesday. Due to the change, first-year students will move into their dorms Thursday, Aug. 16 while upperclassmen will move in Saturday, Aug. 18.

President David Hodge announced the change in scheduling last week, saying that the change was partially prompted by a desire to deter the number of accidents and parties that take place during the weekend before classes begin - which will now be shortened from a three-day weekend to a regular two-day weekend.

"Because (in the past) there's no class on Monday, we've built up this tradition of a crazy weekend where people lose their judgment," Hodge said.

In addition, Hodge said the change in the schedule will allow more Miami parents to attend convocation.

"Making move-in day Thursday may cause more of a conflict with schedules, but it will also move convocation to Friday morning so parents can attend," Hodge said. "As a parent, it's a really cool wrap-up for them to participate and see the march that is such a tradition (at Miami)."

The new schedule will eliminate the fall semester's Monday/Tuesday switch day, although the second semester switch day will remain.

Hodge originally presented the idea for the calendar change to a group of seven administrators. President Hodge appointed the committee, named the Fall Calendar Planning Ad Hoc Task Force. The committee met throughout the fall semester, and continues to meet now.

After the committee consulted with other groups, including the interdivisional committee of academic advisers and the council of academic deans, both Associated Student Government (ASG) and university senate passed the resolution for the schedule switch.

"(The change) has to do with academic and student life objectives," said Steve Snyder, assistant to the president and member of the committee. "We are trying to have international students go through the same thing as first-year or transfer students … rather than separating them as we have been doing (during past orientations)."

First-year student Elizabeth Farrar said that, though the right intentions are there, the change may not actually be successful.

"College orientation is a time when you need to move in and get settled into a new life," Farrar said. "It's not a time to be hanging around campus with your parents. It's really important to start meeting people and putting yourself out there."

Like Hodge, Snyder hopes the switch will lessen the amount of drinking that originally occurred on Monday night.

"I don't think it will affect Friday and Saturday nights … but it makes (the first weekend at Miami) a regular weekend," Snyder said.

Chris Martin, associate professor of journalism also thinks the switch has the potential to make an impact on alcohol-related problems during the first weekend students are in Oxford.

"I think (the schedule change) is probably one of the 20-40 things (the university can do) to curb underage drinking," Martin said. "I think (the university) should give everything a try. There's no reason why (the university) can't start classes on Monday."

The committee that dealt with the schedule change will meet again fall semester and consult with groups such as the President's Executive Committee, ASG and university senate to discuss the effectiveness of the change.