The majority of students oppose shortening winter break according to the results of this year's Macalester College Student Government's student survey.

A proposal limiting the length of the January break (popularly called J-Term), by two weeks has been discussed by the administration and faculty since December as a possible cost-cutting move.

However, nearly 70 percent of survey respondents supported keeping the length unchanged for work or internship possibilities, while over 60 percent found the current length to be best in terms of their academic career.

Math Professor Danny Kaplan, who is looking into the financial ramifications of the calendar changes as Chair of the Resource Planning Committee, said the student input from the survey will be very important in terms of deciding the future of J-term.

"It had a big effect on people's views," he said, but also noted that there are numerous other factors that must be considered.

The survey also found academic excellence to be the most important concern of students in the selection of Macalester's new president. Many students also want the president to give precedence to housing, multiculturalism and the financial status of the college. Students also expressed concern that the president be personable and approachable.

In a write-in section, students expressed overwhelming support for the Scottish Country Fair, pointing to the need to keep the unique tradition on campus.

The survey, which was conducted for the first time last year, provides Macalester College Student Government (MCSG) with "an incredibly important mandate from students," according to MCSG President Haris Aqeel, '04. "The key to effective representation is getting concrete numbers and figures about what students want. It makes us much more effective and gives us more credibility," he said.

Aqeel pointed to the success of last year's survey in identifying three major issues: a student-run space in the campus center, dissatisfaction with the tenure process and late-night study space.

All of these issues have been addressed by MCSG this year, with a new student lounge now in the works, a faculty vote due on a tenure resolution this May, and the study space issue set to be discussed in an upcoming meeting.

In other results, most students indicated that while they were aware of its purpose, they felt that MCSG could be more accessible. A majority of respondents also indicated that they would not want to purchase a yearbook or a class ring.

The survey results are public and will be put on the MCSG website. Copies can be obtained from the MCSG office.