8 a.m. Classes
Duke University has decided to eliminate the dreaded 8 a.m. classes. That, along with some additional coddling should prepare them for the real world:

DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke University is eliminating 8 a.m. classes and trying to come up with other ways help its sleep-deprived students, who too often are struggling to survive on a mix of caffeine, adrenaline and ambition.

The school also is considering new orientation programs this fall that would help freshmen understand the importance of sleep.

"Generally, the people I know, we don't see sleep as that important compared to what school and the curriculum have to offer," said Marcel Yang, a Duke freshman from Chapel Hill.

Lack of sleep among college students is an old problem that appears to be getting worse, according to some national surveys.

College students sleep an average of six to seven hours a night, down from seven to seven and a half in the 1980s. Last month, the University of Michigan held a national conference on sleep, stress, depression and college students. Sleep deprivation can hurt academic performance and increase stress.

James Clack, Duke's director of counseling and psychological services, said the latest research shows that college-age people should be getting nine hours of sleep a night.

Oh please, cry me a river. I am not so sure that this is a good way to prepare the kids for the real world, where at least in this industry, the people who roll in around 8 a.m are usually the slackers. I know Duke is a good school and all, but if you aren't getting at least 10 hours of sleep a day in college, then you really haven't learned anything.