The clock is ticking with four weeks to go and 70-plus pages yet to be written for seniors experiencing the annual high-pressure thesis crunch.

The due dates for senior theses range from next week for history and literature to after spring break for computer science.

As visions of chapters and drafts dance through seniors' nightmares, their social lives and other classwork often suffers. Only the luckiest of authors still like their topic. In addition, theses take their toll on advisers, who each week carry home ever-growing piles of laser-printed pages.

Smagula

With his thesis due in three weeks, Jeffrey A. Smagula '96, a Leverett House resident concentrating in government, remains relatively calm in the face of his recent sleep deprivation.

"I didn't get much sleep last night because I had another chapter due today," Smagula says.

Under the guidance of his thesis adviser, he chose to issue chapter deadlines for himself so he could keep on schedule.

Smagula, who has been writing steadily since the first week of January, says these self-imposed deadlines have been "very helpful" along the way.

Although he may occasionally lose sleep, no matter the workload, Smagula reports that he has tried valiantly not to miss meals.

"Vivian, the checker at Leverett House, told me that I should never miss any meals even if I have a thesis to write," Smagula says.

"[Writing my thesis] hasn't really affected my social relations," Smagula says, adding that he often goes out with friends on weekends.

Smagula is studying enhanced penalties for hate crimes, and he says he is pleased with his subject matter because he feels that it is both important and interesting.

"I have to pretty much write a conclusion, rewrite, and edit. That's all I have left," he says, adding that he has about 90 pages already written.

With heightening excitement in his voice, Smagula speaks of life beyond his thesis.

"I'll really enjoy spring break this year," he says.

Buchholz