Elon University’s campus was different during Fall Break.
The student population was noticeably smaller. The majority of people walking around Elon were perspective students and families who were directed by tour guides. There was only one person in the Moseley lounge Saturday afternoon, a typically busy time flooded with groups working on projects or with individuals catching up on their studies.
Fall break was four days long, spanning from Oct. 10 to Oct.15. Elon students who remained on campus took the time to study, sleep, and take road trips to off campus destinations.
Sophomore Patrick Keneally said he used the break as an opportunity to visit Charlotte with friends. “It’ll be good to explore what’s beyond campus,” he said. He also said he was planning on watching football with friends.
Other students took the free days to explore outside Elon’s boundaries.
Junior Citlaly Mora said she intended to visit the Dixie Classic Fair in Winston-Salem. Excited for her adventures, Mora also kept in mind responsibilities back on campus. Mora is a librarian assistant at Belk Library, so she used the break to get hours in at work as well as the completion of essays.
Unlike Mora, sophomore Tyler Patchen took his break to catch up with family and relax. Patchen’s parents visited from Jamaica for the long weekend.
“I don’t get to see them too often because of the distance, so it’s nice to see them whenever I can,” he said.
For some students the distance was too far for them to return home for break. Elon Men’s Tennis player and Sweden Native Robert Lindgrem said that he is staying on campus to practice and watch an Elon tennis tournament.
Other students said they did nothing different over break than they usually do during the semester.
Students who stayed on campus had to adjust to different dining hall hours.
Students like first-year Raliegh Burrell and junior Courtney Beavan’s eating schedules had to be adjusted to the varied times of the dining halls.
“I’m eating breakfast later than usual,” Burrell said.
Beavan said she wished more dining facilities, specifically Acorn, were open on campus to accommodate students who didn’t go away for the break.
Lakeside dining hall worker Fran Light said the hours of the dining halls changed from last year’s break schedule; last year Lakeside opened for dinner at 4 p.m., where this year it opened at 5 p.m.
The change in dining hall hours didn’t just affect students, but Light said dining hall workers also had to adjust to different schedules.
Tuesday afternoon campus began to return to normal.
Students filled previously desolate sidewalks and dining halls with re-energized spirits from downtime spent both on and off campus.