As thousands of UB students prepare for the end of the fall semester and begin to make plans for the upcoming winter holiday, flights are booked and suitcases are packed in anticipation of a much-needed break. While many students can't wait to get a break from Buffalo, others aren't planning on leaving UB at all during the vacation.
Regardless of whether or not students are leaving UB for the break or staying around the area, the majority of students are simply relieved to soon have a break and time off from school.
Tammy Vance, a senior biotechnology major, is pleased to finally finish her difficult class load this semester.
"I cannot wait for winter break because I had a very heavy workload this semester and I am just happy it is over and I will have some time to relax," she said.
Vance, a resident of the Flint Village apartment complex, has a yearlong contract for her room that lasts through the month of August. As a result she will be taking advantage of her on-campus living arrangements during the months of December and January.
"Over break I am going to stay in my on-campus apartment because I will be working in the dorms over the break period and need to be able to get to and from work since I do not have a car," said Vance. "I do not mind staying in the apartments over break periods, because it is usually quiet and a lot of students from out of state leave to visit their families for the holidays."
Shelia Pinckney, associate director of the residence halls and apartments, explained the options that exist for students who dorm and wish to stay over the break.
"Students who want to stay in the residence halls over the winter break have to have a legitimate reason and request permission," said Pinckney.
According to Pinckney select rooms in certain residence halls will be open for students who need to stay over winter break. They include space in Richmond and Red Jacket in Ellicott, Clement and Schoellkopf on South Campus, and Clinton Hall in Governors.
"All of the other dorms will be closed during the break period and students wishing to stay who live in a closed dorm will be accommodated to a lounge space in one of the open residence halls during the break period," said Pinckney.
Pinckney said that majority of the 5,000 students who live in the residence halls leave during winter break, but she estimates that a couple hundred will request permission to stay for various reasons.
Maria Brady, a senior exercise science major, has been an RA in the Fargo dorms for two years now.
"Fargo dorms will be closed, so if any of my residents request permission to stay over break they most likely will be moved to a lounge in Red Jacket," she said. "It is a common option for study abroad students from other countries to take during the break period."
Rob Kleinberg, a senior exercise science major, is a resident of Fargo Hall who plans on traveling home for the holidays.
"Since my dorm is closed during break, I am leaving and going home to Rochester to visit my family and friends, along with celebrating my 22nd birthday," said Kleinberg.
Many students choosing not to stay in the dorms or in their on-campus apartments during the break can't wait to get home to see their family and friends.
"I have airline tickets to leave to go home to Long Island as soon as my exams are done," said Diane Passenant, a freshman aerospace engineering major. "I have lots of Christmas shopping to do when I get home."
Other students, like Delia Kelly, a junior psychology major, have other plans in mind for the winter break.
"I do not have time to work during the semester with my heavy academic workload, so during break I am going home to Newburg, New York and working a lot of hours throughout December and January so I will have spending money for next semester," said Kelly.
Working might not sound like the most thrilling thing to do over break, so some students like Leah Schwartz, a sophomore undecided major, have decide to travel over the break period.
"I am going to fly home to New City, New York to visit my family and then we are going on a vacation to Mayan Riviera Mexico and then a few days later will be traveling to Israel to celebrate the end of the Jewish holiday Hanukkah," said Schwartz.
However, regardless of what UB students choose to do with their time over the winter break, it seems as though thousands of students are anxiously awaiting their final exams to end and a chance for relaxation from the busy fall semester to actually begin.
"I don't care where I actually spend my winter break," said Alexandria Hassan, a senior occupational therapy major, "As long as a good portion of it involves me doing a whole lot of nothing. I deserve some time to relax after this busy semester."
