Are Wednesdays the New Thursdays?

Who decided the weekend had to wait until Thursday?

Wednesday, which used to be the middle of the week, is now making a strong case for the beginning of the weekend. At Tulane, all it takes is one text to make the transition official: “Beat the Clock?”

Suddenly, the group chat is active. Someone wants to know when everyone is going to The Boot. Someone is asking who’s ready. Someone who hasn’t responded to a single message all day is now providing a detailed itinerary.

For a plan that came together fifteen minutes ago, everyone is impressively organized.

Thursday has traditionally held the unofficial title of “basically the weekend.” It’s close enough to Friday to count, and saying “I’m going out Thursday” rarely requires further explanation. But Wednesday offers something different: it gives you something to look forward to in the middle of a busy week.

By then, you’ve been to class, answered emails, sat through meetings, and said “this week is so busy” to everyone you’ve run into. Seeing your friends suddenly sounds pretty good.

That’s part of the appeal of Beat the Clock at The Boot. There’s a familiar plan to look forward to without needing a birthday, a visiting friend, or a carefully coordinated occasion. Sometimes, a random Wednesday becomes the most fun night of the week.

And unlike plans that require forty messages just to choose a location, this one is easy to explain. “Boot?” does most of the work. Then it’s just a matter of getting everyone out the door at the same time.

Between classes, clubs, and assignments, it can be hard to find time to see your friends during the week. Wednesday nights give everyone a chance to get together, catch up, and spend time somewhere other than the library or the business school.

You hear how an interview went. You finally see the friend whose schedule never lines up with yours. You run into someone from class and end up talking about something other than the next exam or the project you are working on.

Wednesday nights also feel more relaxed. On the weekends, there can be pressure to have big plans and make the most of every night. A Wednesday can simply be a Wednesday. You see who’s around, spend time with your friends, and let the night just happen.

Sometimes those are the nights you end up talking about later: an unexpected reunion, a ridiculous conversation, or a picture that becomes the group chat’s new favorite.

Of course, Thursday classes still come around, so how late you stay might depend on when your first one starts. Making room for a midweek plan doesn’t have to be a dramatic decision. Some weeks you have time to join; other weeks you go out another night. You can stop by for a bit without turning it into an occasion.

Maybe that’s why Wednesday is catching on. It breaks up the usual weekday routine. Friday no longer has sole responsibility for providing something to look forward to, and catching up with friends doesn’t always have to wait until the weekend.

So, are Wednesdays the new Thursdays? At Tulane, you might have to start asking about weekend plans a day earlier.