Here’s a news flash for you: this time next year, you will either be cramming for final exams, preparing for commencement, packing up for summer vacation at home, or cruising into your final phase of co-op.

Though some opponents of semester conversion have painted a picture of chaos and mayhem flooding the university on September 6, when students embark on the journey of semesters, this chaos theory may not be so true. In fact, Ann Comer, the communications manager for the Office of the Provost said that semesters really will not hit home until the spring semester.

Spring? This in and of itself is an oxymoron. Spring in New England is by no way, shape or form represented in the months of January, February, March and (as this year has proven) April.

So it’s only the name of the semester, big deal, I know I’m nit-picking. But think about it. If you have friends at semester schools (which most of us do), they are making their plans for the summer vacation, they are panicking about finding a decent internship and they are packing up, while we, Northeastern students, are just waking up from our winter slumber. Under the quarter system, Northeastern students have the liberty to catch a bad case of spring fever, while semester schools are gearing up for some fun in the sun.

Speaking of which, what happens to spring break?

March 1-5, there is your spring break, versus this past year when spring break fell on March 17-21. A bit of a difference, just thought I would point that out.

Next year though, we will follow the pack of college students in a number of ways, moving in over Labor Day weekend, spring break and graduating in May. Actually, Northeastern will lead by being the first university to hold commencement in the spring. This year, NU students will walk down the aisle at The FleetCenter on June 14, next year, commencement will be bumped up to May 1 and the following year — get this — April 30.

APRIL?!

Can you imagine?

Michael Vaughn, a professor in the physics department, shared the same sentiments in Faculty Senate on Monday.

“I was under the impression that exams would be held at the end of the first week of May,” Vaughn said, but added it isn’t a real big deal. He admits he had not looked at a calendar very closely, but that at first he was “mystified.”

Personally I find it exciting. Change is always interesting, even if you agree with it or not. It is a bit concerning that not all of the faculty, staff and students are completely in the loop. But I also feel like somewhere along the line, we, the students of Northeastern University, are missing something.

Where do those six weeks go?

The “mini” semester.

That’s where it goes. So long as the mysterious six weeks are not floating around in a semester system abyss we’re alright?

Ahhhh, I wouldn’t count on that one.

You see, there’s always a but in this column, and most of the time, I do not mean it on purpose …

But, I just happened to stumble on this one.

I started with Arts ‘ Sciences. Actually I picked the brains of two of my favorite higher-ups in the office. They know who they are, and I appreciate their help. The only thing is, they are stumped as to how these two tiny semesters are going to effect the big picture.

It is also unclear how courses will be offered and if full-time professors will be required to teach in either mini semester, if at all. Which could prove to be difficult.

And what about co-op? What if an abundant amount of students are in one co-op division and need to move over to an alternate division to even the program out? Would it be on a volunteer basis, or would students randomly be selected to alter their rotations? How would being on co-op or in classes for an entire year affect a student’s performance and experience at Northeastern? Anyone thought about that yet?

And what about seniors? Seniors cannot go on co-op their last semester at NU, because of the mini semesters. So will all seniors be switched over to the co-op division that encompass summer 2 and fall semester? How will that affect the co-op offices throughout the university? Doesn’t that seem to be a slight problem, or possibly even an oversight?

Any help from the audience here?

I think Professor Vaughn, summed it up best.

“A lot of things will not get sorted out until the first run though.”

There it is, lace up your sneakers and get ready to run.

But make sure they are comfortable, it could be a bumpy ride.

For those in the co-op department, ice is key. Shin splints and stress fractures seem to be in your future.