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Chapman, Orange area offer winter break resources, activities for students staying in the area

Planning to stay on campus this holiday season? Chapman has different resources for students staying on or around campus during the winter break. Photo by EMI THOMAS, Staff Photographer

Chapman students staying on campus during winter break will have resources and support to  help them during the holiday season. 

The holidays can be both an exciting and lonely time, especially if one is away from family. After the hecticness of finals, time off can be relaxing and enjoyable. Therefore, it is important that students utilize the resources on campus during their stay. 

Resources such as public safety and housing will be available for on-campus students during the break. 

Dean of Students Jerry Price emphasized specific emergency resources that will be available during the break, and he also offered advice for students staying on campus. 

“We are fortunate to have housing open during break, and there are only seven days the university is closed all together, even though classes will be over for that week,” Price said. “Offices and dining will still be open until the 21st,” Price said. 

Even though the university will be closed during Dec. 21 through Jan. 2, students can still contact Public Safety at (714) 997-6763.  

Junior Elena Bisharat, an acting and directing major, is an international student from Jordan who is staying on campus during the break due to the long distance from her home country. 

“Because I’m graduating a year early, I’m taking an Interterm course, and because the distance to Jordan is quite long, I decided it wasn’t worth it to go for a short period of time,” Bisharat said. 

“During the holidays, it’s quite hard to be far from my family, especially since everyone is going home to see their family,” Bisharat continued. “Even though I talk with my family every day, I still miss them very much, but I will keep myself busy with plans I’ve made, such as Christmas events around Orange County and Los Angeles.” 

Events throughout Orange County will be available for students to attend and embrace the holiday spirit. 

Winterfest OC will be held in Costa Mesa through Jan. 7. It is the largest Winterfest in Southern California. 

The Winterfest includes the North Pole Journey, where attendees will be able to live through the life of an elf working at the North Pole. The Winterfest also has an ice skating rink, snow and ice section where attendees will be able to play snow games, sled through the snow and enjoy the ambience.