Dear Harvard,

We at FlyBy would like to extend our deepest gratitude on behalf of the entire undergraduate student body. We would like to thank you, fair Harvard, for giving us this Monday, October 12, as a day of rest.

As the leaves fall, our midterms have begun blossom. With each degree the temperature drops, another paper is assigned. And our hours of sleep have dwindled, as we are sure yours in University Hall have as well. So having today as a day of rest, to read and write and do problem sets and maybe sleep and laugh with friends for a moment, is not a gift that should go unacknowledged.

It is only fair to history that we admit that the reason behind our day off, Christopher Columbus’ arrival on our continent, will not be very much on our minds today. Some probably would say that it is good – we should not celebrate his arrival, they say, because the indigenous people of North America certainly did not appreciate the genocide he wrought. But, Harvard, we still appreciate the historical gesture. And though Duke and U Chicago, amongst many other illustrious academic institutions in this nation, are not granting their students rest, you are, dear Harvard. And for that, our deepest thanks.

Sincerely,

FlyBy