“Thank God it’s Thursday!”

This has increasingly become Boston University students’ new mantra as professors and students alike adjust their schedules to guarantee a coveted three-day weekend every week.

With more students and teachers choosing to capitalize on the luxury of lengthy rest periods at the end of each week, Friday classes are fast going the way of the Dodo Bird and the steam engine – extinction.

College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Tim Keck said he has classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays only.

“I love having nothing hanging over my head after Thursday afternoon,” he said. “Having long weekends gives me the freedom to do whatever I want, academically or socially.”

Students and teachers, particularly those who have to commute from long distances, say there is a general feeling around campus that three- or four-day weekends are convenient.

“I have never taught a Friday class in my entire teaching career here at Boston University,” College of Communication associate professor Mike Berlin said. “Our contract calls for us to be on campus four days each week, so why come on Friday if you don’t have to?”

Some students and teachers say having a long weekend so frequently is counter-productive. Instead of using the extra time for academic purposes, they say some students are merely partying or socializing.

“Three-day weekends could be advantageous, depending on the student,” COM associate professor Chris Daly said. “Some are mature, well-organized and use this opportunity to get internships or for long bouts of research. But for others, Thursday kicks off the weekend.”

Berlin said this could leave to increased alcohol consumption, but that cannot be assumed for all cases.

“A lot of students probably use this to get drunk three nights a week instead of two,” Berlin said. “But some others use this time to travel, study and see the city.”

Students said not having classes on Friday is convenient not only for social reasons, but academic reasons as well.

“By having all my classes in a block, just like in high-school, I really have no excuse to ever skip class,” Keck said. “If I need to spend an extended amount of time in the library or on a project, I have three full days in the week to do it.”

School of Hospitality Administration junior Christina Hoang said she relishes the opportunity to hold an internship on Fridays.

“I work all day at a really good internship on Fridays,” Hoang says. “That would never be possible if I had to go to class, so I’m glad I was able to arrange my schedule like that.”

COM sophomore Steve Cimino said he appreciates the freedom that comes with his schedule and takes full advantage of it.

“It’s not just about being able to party hard or party more,” he said. “I use these weekends to visit my girlfriend or visit friends that don’t live in Boston. Also, there are a lot of events that happen during the day in Boston that I am able to go to.”

Sometimes there is no way around having classes on Friday, COM sophomore Michelle Ciotta said.

“I would love to have a long weekend every weekend,” she said. “It’s tough to arrange my schedule so that I can have no Friday classes, because there are some classes you simply have to take and there’s no way around it.

“I still try to do it every time I register for classes, though,” she continued, “because let’s face it – who wants to go to class on Friday?”