As the last week of the Fall 2005 Semester comes to a close, most students living on campus at The University of Memphis are beginning to pack for home. However, for students staying at Memphis through the break, The University is adjusting its schedule to fit their needs.
Peter Groenendyk, the associate director for Residence Life and Dining Services at The University, said most facilities will have to take a step back in the amount they provide, but The University is still remembering its students on campus.
"While most of our students do tend to go home over the holidays, we do recognize there are still some people that we have to look out for," Groenendyk said.
Groenendyk said the only dorms that remain open during the break are Richardson Towers and Carpenter Hall. These residencies, however, will continue to be fully staffed, with residential assistants on call at all times, as well as desk assistants on duty.
"We keep these R.A.'s on duty at all times, mainly to keep track of who's staying and who's not," Groenendyk said. "We've actually found these dorms are more secure when they're open than when they're closed."
Dormitories in Richardson Towers and Carpenter Hall are open to anyone who has a contract for the spring semester, Groenendyk said. Anyone who has a contract for the next semester but is not staying through the break does not have to move their belongings out of their room. However, Groenendyk said residence life does suggest students at least take out any "expensive things you would really miss if you lost." This includes laptops computer, televisions, radios and video game systems.
"We realize the majority of students go home and then come back, so we don't need to put that kind of restriction on them, where they have to take everything out," he said.
In addition to some of the residence halls remaining open, The University will also be keeping some of their dining facilities open during the break.
Jean Kettler, an administrative assistant for the Tiger Dining facility, said Tiger Dining would remain open during University hours, even when classes are not in session.
"Even after exams, we're still open on weekdays, since The University is still technically open even when classes aren't in session," Kettler said.
The Tiger Dining Facility, which is the only on-campus dining facility which will remain open during the holiday break, will be open from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Fridays. No dining facilities will be open on weekends or on New Year's Day.
"If you're living on campus during that time, there are still plenty of restaurants around The University area," Kettler said. "Most of the places in this area are known to cater to University students and their budgets."
One University facility, however, is keeping to its 24-hour policy. The student computer lab, on the first floor of McWherter Library, is planning on being open all day, every day, for almost the entirety of the break.
"Until, I think, about Christmas Eve, we aren't going to close our doors," said Joe Thompson, a desk assistant for the computer lab. "There are lots of students who still have papers or research to do over the break, so we try to stay here for them."
