By By Maggie Biunno
With the semester almost over, most students are eager to finish finals and return home for the holidays. However, while most trade in their books, there are still some students who remain on campus over the holidays and intercession.
Required to Stay
Even though the University is essentially closed, some residents remain on campus, which means a residential assistant (RA) must be on duty to make sure there are no problems.
An RA of Colonial Square East in the Norwich house, Jason D’Alberti, will be on campus over the holidays. During this free time, and possibly January session if he does not take classes, D’Alberti plans on working as much as possible. Even though he will not be going home to upstate New York, he hopes to still celebrate with some of his family.
“I have to work and my family is going to West Virginia to visit my older sister and my nephew for Christmas,” D’Alberti, a senior film major, said. “I might go visit some aunts and uncles here on the island on Christmas.”
Matthew Telling, a fellow RA in the Williamsburg House of Colonial Square West will complete his time at the University this December. Telling, originally from Rotherham, England, also plans on being on campus over the holidays for a variety of reasons.
“I am graduating in December, so I know I will be going home for good in January,” Telling, a senior physical education and sport sciences major, said. “I want to spend a Christmas and New Years in New York with friends from Hofstra.”
This is Telling’s first time at the University over the holidays; however, he will still be able to see his family for some time when they come to the University for his graduation. Although he will not have his family here on the actual day of Christmas, Telling still plans to celebrate.
“I will be going to a friend’s for Christmas Eve and then Christmas day,” Telling said. “My friend is also coming over to stay with me on Dec. 26, so I will have somebody from England with me for most of the holidays.”
While many of the RAs will be on campus for their jobs and may still be able to see their families during this time of celebration, international students do not have such accessibility. Tansel Alan, an international student from Turkey, will be spending the holidays at the University.
“My home is thousands of miles away,” Alan, a first-year student at the University studying for a Master of Science in the engineering management program, said. “I also want to be here during the holiday season to experience the Christmas spirit. I am also very excited because it will be my first New Year celebration outside my country.”
Alan will not be taking January classes. It will be difficult to be away from home, but he plans to make the best out of his time. He feels it will be a celebration that he will never forget since he will be joined by friends from Turkey for the infamous New Year’s festivities in Manhattan.
“Although I am a little sad about not spending the holiday with my friends and family in Turkey, I know that this holiday and New Year celebration will be very splendid and unforgettable for me,” Alan said.
Unfortunately for the students who will be here during the holidays, the University’s festivities are being held before the end of the fall semester.
There was a dinner for the International students, a Kwanzaa Celebration, a Hanukkah party hosted by Hillel and the annual Sinterklaas party to celebrate the University’s Dutch heritage.
Even with the wide variety of programs for the many holidays, no events are occurring on the actual holidays for the students who will be on campus.
However, with the University located so close to the train station, residents staying over break have many options in New York City. This is the perfect time for students to explore the area without worrying about homework or studying. New York City has something to offer to everyone for every occasion.
If you are stuck on campus during the holidays, know that you are not alone and there are still ways to celebrate. The holidays in New York are an excellent time to explore the Big Apple. Fun activities can be found on theinsider.com.