Most students probably think the end of the semester means a break from work, but for the people who keep the residence halls running, the few days at the end of the semester can be busier than normal.

The residence halls close for the semester on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 3 p.m. for most students and at 6 p.m. for graduating seniors.

Fran Scott, Knapp Hall hall director, said students must check their rooms before they leave to make sure any garbage is disposed of, refrigerators are cleaned out, pop cans are in the kitchenettes and nothing is near the heater that could be ruined.

Scott said residents then fill out a checklist that is given to the resident assistants.

“[The RAs and hall directors] work pretty much all day on Saturday,” she said.

“At 3 [p.m.] we go through and check any rooms that haven’t been checked yet and basically close up the building,” she said.

Brad Knapp, Larch Hall director, said the Dec. 19 was picked as the last day to move out because it is the day of graduation.

“After graduation, there are no official student functions,” he said.

Knapp said during Thanksgiving and spring break, if students are not out of the halls on time, it is usually because they overslept.

“For Christmas break, it’s usually because they’re waiting for a ride to get home, and sometimes parents aren’t there to pick them up right at three,” Knapp said.

He said because students are aware that they cannot stay in the dorms over break, it is usually not a problem to get them to leave by Saturday.

“Each [residence hall] association has continuous housing … those are the only [buildings] that have students in them constantly over break,” Knapp said.

Knapp said for a couple of days after the semester ends and before the next semester begins, there might be some desk workers there forwarding mail, but for the most part, students aren’t in the residence halls over break.

Scott said student security continues to make rounds, and the locks are changed so students’ keys don’t work during breaks.

“It’s relatively safe … but if they have jewelry, CDs or something they really don’t want tampered with, to be safe they should take it with them,” she said.

Kristen Alley, hall director of Linden Hall, said Linden usually has about 100 people staying in continuous housing over breaks.

Alley said students in continuous housing are responsible for their own meals over break. She said both Linden and Fisher-Nickell halls have kitchens the students can use to cook their own meals.

Many times students who live in continuous housing are invited to go home for the holidays with other students, Alley said.

She said maintenance workers use the semester break to replace carpet, check smoke alarms and spray for bugs.

“The maintenance staff is usually good about telling us in advance about any intensive repairs they will be doing during the holidays,” Alley said.

“They put up signs notifying us about what they will be doing and try to work around students who are here,” she said.

She said the Department of Residence workers try to provide privacy and a comfortable place for students to stay over break while still getting their work done.

Scott said most of the hall directors “try and get away for the holidays,” but they can stay in the residence halls over break.

“We just get ready for RA orientation in January,” she said.