When Thanksgiving break begins Nov. 25, residents living on campus will have have until 10 a.m. to vacate their residence halls and will not be allowed to return until 7 p.m. Nov. 27. This policy has some students upset about being “kicked out” of their dorm during this time.
Peter Shin, a junior in aerospace engineering, said he wished there were more options for those that remain on campus.
“I wish the arrangements were more flexible and different dorms had different policies. That might be confusing, but certain dorms need more options because not everyone can go home during these breaks,” he said.
University Housing warns students to take all personal belongings home that they might need access to over the holidays, unplug all electrical items except for fridges and take out the trash. If items such as phone chargers are left in the room, residents will have to do without them during the three days they are gone. Postings in Bowen, Metcalf and Carroll Residences Halls state residents “will not be able to gain entry into the buildings prior to the stated time on Friday.”
Jim Pappenhagen, associate director of administration for Housing, said the policy has been in place for a number of years and was created because the dorms used to be open during breaks but there weren’t enough students to warrant keeping them open.
“The dorms were open, but, in reality, only one or two people were using them so that didn’t make sense to keep them staffed and heated and electricity on,” he said.
Occasionally people request to stay on campus during the breaks, and for the people who make such requests early enough Pappenhagen said they can stay in guest rooms at Avent Ferry Complex.
“If students make arrangements early enough, Avent Ferry is available to them,” he said.
These rooms are available by request on Housing’s Web site and must be made one week prior to the beginning of a guest’s stay.
Aleksey Bakunov, a junior in aerospace engineering and a resident of Alexander Residence Hall’s Global Village, said there are some advantages to leaving for breaks.
“It can be inconvenient for international students who don’t have anywhere to go, but then most chose to travel during this time. Being forced to travel the country is not such a bad thing,” he said.
Craig Smith, a junior in history, said he knew about the guest rooms.
“I wish I could stay here since I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, but I’m going to stay with a friend in Cary. I know about the Avent Ferry rooms, but it’s cheaper and more fun to stay with friends,” he said.
Mandating that students leave the buildings allows resident advisers and other building staff to enjoy the break, Pappenhagen said.
“Staff has the time to spend Thanksgiving with their families and recharge for the final stretch of the semester,” he said.
