Some University of Memphis students are between a rock and a hard place concerning their Spring Break plans.
All dorms, with the exception of Richardson Towers and Carpenter Complex, are closed, and some students said they feel like they're being "kicked out" of their home.
Dorms will close Saturday at noon and reopen at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 18, said Danny Armitage, associate dean of students.
Armitage said it's not financially feasible to keep the dorms open during Spring Break. He said only 5 percent of dorm residents usually stay on campus during Spring Break.
In order to keep the dorms open, Armitage said, they must be fully operational, which requires all staff to be present, including resident assistants, desk workers, professional staff and custodians.
"Whether there are five people in a building or 600 people in a building, they all require the same staff," Armitage said. "If 800 people were interested in staying on campus, we would consider keeping the dorms open."
"Closing the dorms is a way to save money and keep the rent low," he said. "We try to meet as many needs as possible, but it is difficult when you have approximately 2,000 people living on campus."
There are five rooms available for rent on the first floor of Richardson Towers North, said assistant director of residence life Dana Copes. The rooms are available for $42 a night and include a bed, television, desk, dresser, night stand and bath.
However, the rooms have been rented for Spring Break-not to U of M students, but to the University of Dayton and Texas Woman's University, Copes said.
"Closing the dorms for Spring Break is ridiculous," said sophomore Katy Bondeson, a Rawls Hall resident. "I have to fly home to Minnesota. U of M students should have first priority to rent rooms -- at least let us know about it."
According to Copes, students are not notified of the rooms unless they specifically inquire about on-campus housing during Spring Break.
"I live in New York and I am going home for break," said sophomore Adenike Adeyeye, also a Rawls Hall resident. "I would stay here, but we are getting kicked out. It is not fair. The rooms for rent at Towers should be free for students. U of M students should have first priority."
Sophomore Erica Price said, "I have to go home for break," Price said. "I am from Jacksonville, Arkansas. I didn't know about the rooms at Richardson. They didn't tell us."
