Campus prepares for hibernation; limited access available for residents

Kate Woolery- Staff Writer
12/9/11

Winter break is approaching quickly.  While many of us are preparing to go back home, others are filling out registration forms to stay on campus over the break.
Last year alone, 258 students resided on campus over Christmas break. Ernie Stufflebean, assistant dean of students and director of Residence Life, expects around the same number of applicants this year.  However, he was unable to give a specific number of students that will be staying on campus due to the ongoing process.
“There are a lot of things that go on during that one month we’re not in session with classes that dictates whether or not students have to be here [on campus].  We call it closing for the holidays, but we’re really not closed.  About a fourth of our total campus residency, at some point in time, is typically on campus over the break for something,” Stufflebean said.

Students who generally occupy campus over break are those either involved in college-sponsored activities, such as sports; work in or around the Liberty area; are of senior status or are participating in Cardinal Term.  In previous years, many international students have also stayed on campus over the break. Other students may reside on campus over the break, but not without a reason.

“Students have to have a reason to be here, and they have to register with our office [Student Affairs] in advance,” Stufflebean said.  “We do that because if we were to have an emergency in a building, we have to know where the students are.  God forbid we would have a fire or some kind of disaster. From a staff standpoint, we just have to know who’s here and where they’re staying.  That’s why we require students to sign up to stay. With our lock system that we have on the residence halls, we also have to set ID permissions for those students to stay so that their IDs will work.”

Students who are allowed to reside on campus will have limited access to the College.  For instance, Dining Services will be available, but with reduced operations.
“Dining Services tends to have a modified operating schedule during the holidays for students that are here and need access to Dining Services. It’s more limited, but there’s still some availability there,” Stufflebean said.  “Usually they don’t operate everything like they do during the academic year, so I think typically they’ll just have one area open.  It could be the Cage.  It could be the Dining Hall.  It just has limited hours where people can come over and eat if they want.”

There are no active meal plans over the break.  In previous years, students had to pay a fee for eating on campus over the break.  However, this year Dining Services has stated that it will accept remaining Cardinal Dollars as a form of payment.

The residing students will be joined by staff and faculty members many times through the winter break.  However, there is one week in December that the campus is officially closed.  This means that the faculty and staff are all off for the holidays.

“The only week that we are really officially closed is the week between Christmas and New Year’s, so from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1.  That means that operation of the College is officially shut down. Offices aren’t open.  We’re off for the holiday,” Stufflebean said.  “Any other time during the break, outside of those dates, staff are here on campus working.”