It’s the day before Thanksgiving break and your stuck in traffic and just itching to get far from school and make it home.
College Avenue is littered with cars and lacking it’s normal crowds of students. It’s clear Penn State is about to be deserted for the week.
The last day of classes for Penn State students before break is Nov. 20 and classes are cancelled until Nov. 30 in order for students to spend Thanksgiving break at home.
Following the return to school from break, there are only two weeks of classes and a week of finals and then the Fall 2009 semester comes to a close. Therefore, for some students, break means cramming to get last minute projects, papers, and studying done.
Erin Roth, senior – human developmental family studies, has a nine hour drive to her home in Indiana, but contemplated staying at her apartment in downtown State College because she has so much work.
Roth said she has four big papers due the week following break, grad school application deadlines approaching, and a few tests she wants to start studying for during her week of from classes and work. Roth has six classes this semester, most at the 400 level and works at an elementary after school program.
Elicia Abella, sophomore – undergraduate studies, is from California and staying up at school for her break. She is not looking forward to being on campus while the majority of the students are not there.
She is not looking forward to the campus clearing out. She doesn’t have a lot of work that needs to be done and all her friends are traveling home for the holiday. Friday, Nov.20, was also her birthday and the start to her lonely week.
“Maybe I’ll walk around and hang out with whoever is on the streets, like invite the homeless guy to dinner or something,” she joked.
Not only do students get a break from Penn State being fully functioning, but the businesses downtown have far less customers.
Jennifer Schoch, of Bellefonte, Pa works at McClanahans on College Ave. that campus seems dead and the store even changes its hours to close earlier since there is a lack of students bumbling in to get food and necessities.
“The kids are all gone, but it does give the locals the opportunity to come out. You see a lot more people who have grown up in this area and live around State College come out. It’s like they wait for the students to leave and things to calm down,” Schoch said.
The days before break, students are coming in picking up the last minute Penn State paraphernalia and things their parents have asked them to take home, according to Schoch.
Not only does the ten day Thanksgiving break gives students the time to relax and go home, but it also allows the streets of Penn State some quiet for the week.
