Arkansas State University’s student body just had their week off, a time to be away from their studies, to go back home, travel or see friends and family, but there were a few students who remained on campus during this spring break.

Bri Jordan, a junior psychology major from Paragould, Arkansas, spent their spring break in A-State’s Red Wolf Den alongside their two roommates. 

“I have a job in Jonesboro and staying on campus is much more convenient than traveling back and forth,” Jordan said. 

Though Jordan’s time during this break was spent working at First National Bank as a part time teller, they also spent time with their roommates eating pizza and watching “The Hunger Games” franchise as well as playing the card game “We’re Not Really Strangers.” 

Jordan saw these activities as a nice chance to have a breather after a busy couple of weeks. 

“I haven’t stayed on campus before because the dorms I had stayed in previously didn’t allow staying over breaks without extra cost.” 

Connor Van Jaarsveldt, a sophomore in business administration from Krugersdorp, South Africa, is a rugby student-athlete. 

The team normally plays and trains over spring break, so Jaarsveldt had to remain on campus.

“There really isn’t an option but to stay on campus and even if we could go home, flights are super expensive,” Jaarsveldt said. “Being an international student at A-State has been challenging at times. Obviously it’s out of my comfort zone and experiencing a whole new social dynamic etc., but my two years here have also been a really amazing opportunity to continue to play a sport I love with people I have grown to love.”

His spring break was spent either training indoors, chatting and hanging with his friends and watching movies. He jokingly mentioned that his “hermit” behavior is tending to save his outings for activities that he is particularly interested in, or in need of “tender loving care (TLC).”

Ellie Foote, a senior majoring in political science and global studies from Jackson, Missouri, stayed on campus, working over break as the resident assistant (RA) on duty.

Foote had previously lived in University Hall for a year, North Park Quads for two and now lives in the Honors 4 dorm. 

“Other than working on campus, I just hung out with my sorority, Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc.,” Foote said.

In order for a student to stay on campus over spring break, they had to pay a $150 break fee. In addition, they had to fill out an extended stay request form, which had to be submitted by 8 a.m. on March 8.

For the following people interviewed, their fee was waived by the organization they are partaking in and having them pay, by staying in the university’s residential living where the fee doesn’t apply or it’s covered by preexisting scholarships going to their housing costs

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