As students and faculty members gathered in the Presidents Room of Davies Center Monday, the hottest topic for discussion turned out to be the one that Chancellor Donald Mash expected to be the shortest – fall break 2004.

It was one of four topics discussed at the third and final Chancellor’s Roundtable of the semester.

The three other topics were campus safety, library hours and Plan 2008, which is a plan that deals with diversity issues.

Mash said the items for discussion at the Roundtable came primarily from Mortar Board -the event sponsor – and Student Senate.

Mash discussed fall break’s origins and why the recent tradition would be difficult to continue. The 2004 Fall semester does not include a fall break.

Mash said scheduling in the proper amount of classes in the time frame of Fall semester is usually a problem.

“The fall schedule is tight,” he said. “(Fall) is usually the bigger challenge for us.”

Senior Chad Wade said eliminating the fall break hinders education in the long run because, on the 2005-06 academic calendar, there are 57 straight days of classes, out of 69, without a break.

“The extra day of class comes with a price,” Wade said. “With the grind of classes, you tend to feel a drag on the semester.”

Administrative director Jan Morse, who creates the initial draft of the academic calendar, said omitting the break will better serve faculty and students.

The next topic was Plan 2008. Kimberly Barrett, associate vice chancellor of Student Development and Diversity, took the floor and gave a general overview of the plan.

Plan 2008 was designed by the UW system in 1999 to establish and broaden diversity across all UW schools, she said.

Senior Laura Lazewski said she knew students who came to Eau Claire and ended up transferring because the majority of the student population was ethnically similar.

“If Eau Claire could get a more diverse population, that would help retain other students,” Lazewski said.

After Barrett concluded her presentation, library director Bob Rose took the floor and addressed the third topic – library hours.

Prior to 2002, the library was open 24 hours. Now, after budget cuts and reduced library use after 1 a.m., new hours have come into effect, he said.

Sophomore Dawn Snyder said her main concern was the hours on weekends. She said the library sometimes doesn’t open on time, when students are waiting. Rose said he was not aware of this issue, and said he would look into it immediately.

“We have a suggestion box in the library,” Rose said. “I try to respond to comments or suggestions that are made.”

The Roundtable concluded with the topic of campus safety.

Mash said the issue was brought up because of the recent attempted stabbing behind Governors Hall. However, this issue could not be analyzed further because it still is under investigation, he said.

After that, the only issue Mash addressed was lighting on campus. He said proposals are being looked at for additional lighting in dark areas and possibly erecting more emergency phones.

“The safety of the campus is a priority,” he said. “We certainly want to keep it that way.”