While many SF State students spent winter break nestled in their Bay Area homes, most dorm residents preferred to save money by seeking holiday season refuge off campus.

Students who reside in Mary Park Hall, Mary Ward Hall, the Science and Technology Theme Community, and the Towers are not required to evacuate their rooms during the winter break, although most do, according to SF State Housing Office Associate Director Philippe Cumia.

"When students sign their housing contract they know in advance that they will be required to pay in order to stay, but most students don't even ask about staying here over the break," said Cumia, who estimated that only about 10 students stayed in the dorms.

The majority of students who live in the dorms choose not to stay on campus due to the fact that they can save money, spend time with their families, and eat, according to residents.

In order to remain on campus over the winter break, those who reside in the halls must file an addendum and pay approximately $160 per week or $915.60 for the entire 40-day winter break. For those in the STTC, the weekly rate is approx. $175, or $1,000.80 for the break.

With rates such as these, some residents left campus and set their minds to finding jobs in favor of earning money rather than spending it.

"It's too damn expensive to stay," said freshman Kate Cotruvo who resides in Mary Park Hall. "I work in the Sunset, but I could not afford to stay so I had to go home to Concord and commute to work."
"I went home to Oakland to get a seasonal job," said freshman and Mary Ward Hall resident Mia Briones. "It's not far but it's much easier."

Freshman and theater major Sara Gerstel left her on-campus costume shop job over the break in favor of a former job she had near her home in southern California. "Cost wise, it is not really worth it to stay here long term," she said.

Other students remain less concerned about costs and more concerned about where to eat. "The dining center is closed over the break and that's one reason that I left," said Briones. “Where are we supposed to eat?"

The dining center, The City Eats, which provides meal plans for those who reside in the halls is not operated by the housing department and remained closed over the break from Dec. 17 through Jan. 27. For this reason, residence halls and STTC dorm residents are not charged for meal plans over the break, but are left to make alternate eating arrangements.

This affects residents of the halls, but those who reside in the Towers are less affected. Although they must pay for a minimum five-meal plan during spring and fall semesters, they are able to rely upon their own kitchens over the break, according to residents.

Even with the luxury of kitchen availability and $800-$1000 winter fee payment that is already included in their yearly rent, many Towers residents prefer not to stay.

"Winter is paid for already, but there just aren't a lot of people around and I wanted to be back home," said sophomore and Towers resident Nicolette Moncrief.

"It's not worth it to stay," said sophomore and Towers resident Robert Wells. "I went home to Vallejo because it was just easier for me."

Many left the campus out of pure boredom, according to students.

Mary Ward Hall resident and freshman Cory Robinson, who made several trips from her car to her room to move back in on Jan. 27 said, "I didn't want to be by myself. None of my friends stayed so I went home to L.A."

Village resident and junior Yuri Kagan who spent several weeks on campus over the break summed up his observation of the dorms in three words, "It was dead."

Despite such observations over winter break - "dorm desolation" - the area surrounding the dorms has been anything but dead since move-in day on Jan. 27 and many dorm residents, such as freshman Raymond Beltram, are looking forward to a spring semester of “convenience and not commuting to school.”