A temporary move may be in the future for those few studentswho, for one reason or another, don't participate in the massexodus from campus over the semester break.
"Residents have 24 hours after their (last) final exam to checkout" of their dorm rooms, said Daniel Armitage, associate dean ofResidence Life.
Most University of Memphis residence halls will close Friday,Dec. 12, at 3 p.m., when all students except Richardson Towers andCarpenter Complex residents must take what they need and leavetheir rooms behind. However, those students who have the last examslot, Thursday, Dec. 11, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., are allotted extratime, Armitage said.
The required check out time is to ensure appropriate residentbehavior, Armitage said.
"It's a very festive time. Finals are over, some people will begraduating, and it's the holiday season," Armitage said. "Butresident halls are not the place to party."
While residents returning to their same rooms in the spring arenot required to move their possessions, The University assumes noresponsibility for things left behind, Armitage said.
"It would be easier for me to just leave my stuff, but you knowhow people are," said Alison McCoy, freshman criminal justicemajor.
Although the process causes dorm residents to find a differentplace to live for only a month, the process affects a surprisinglysmall number of people and is a financial no-brainer, Armitagesaid.
"We usually get fewer than 10 requests for break housing," hesaid. "Out of Richardson's 1,000 beds, only 80 to 100 of them willbe used over the break."
Legally, The U of M would be responsible for staffing eachresidence at 100 percent, even if only a few people were staying inthe building, Armitage said.
"It's not only a matter of dollars," he said. "Consolidationalso allows staff to get time off during the holidays to spend withtheir families."
Resident assistants usually plan activities like watching moviesto help students get through what can be a very depressing seasonaway from home, Armitage said.
Because a balance between providing students with necessaryservices and sound financial planning must be found, dinningfacilities like the Tiger Den cannot be kept open over holidays,Armitage said.
"We partner with the Methodist campus ministry to provideThanksgiving dinner for about 60 people," Armitage said.
Students can start checking back into dorms Friday, Jan. 9 at 1p.m.
And one plus side to the semester break in housing is forroommates who did not get along in the fall semester. The breakprovides a chance for them to find other arrangements, Armitagesaid.
"Dorm occupancy usually decreases 4 to 5 percent from fall tospring, allowing for more flexibility in changing rooms," Armitagesaid.
