The Student Council Diversity Initiatives Committee has established Hooliday Dining, a new program to provide food and entertainment for students who will remain on Grounds for Thanksgiving Break.
As part of the program, The Crossroads at Observatory Hill Dining Hall will continue to serve students during the break and also will allow students to use meal plan swipes for the first time, said Aquiles Damiron, manager of the Hooliday Dining taskforce. In the past, students were only permitted to use their Plus Dollars during breaks on the academic calendar.
Additionally, students will be able to use their Plus Dollars when they order from Domino's Pizza on both Millmont Street and Fifth Street.
"We wanted to provide something for students who were staying on Grounds ... meaning food and entertainment, and basically a guide of everything that was available to [them] - for example, the routes of [University Transit Service]," he said. "Our whole purpose here is not only to coordinate events for students on Grounds but also make them aware of activities on Grounds."
The Committee started planning the program late September when it sent surveys to multiple organizations to determine the interests of students staying at the University. Damiron said the Committee received about 200 responses, the majority of which came from international students and students whose homes in the United States are too far from Charlottesville to justify going back for the week.
The Office of the Dean of Students and University Dining collaborated with the Committee to help provide these services.
Assoc. Dean of Students Peter Yu was especially concerned about the lack of activities for students during Thanksgiving Breaks in the past and was keen to help with Hooliday Dining, Damiron said.
"Last year, Dean Yu came into the [International Residential College] on Thanksgiving and everyone was in their rooms, sleeping. There was nothing going on," Damiron said. "He was very concerned about that. He thought students should have something to do during the holiday."
With this year's program, the IRC will host a movie night this Friday at 7 p.m., Damiron said.
Students generally reacted positively to Hooliday Dining, and third-year College student Simon Svirnovskiy said he might take advantage of it.
"I think I'd probably go to Crossroads. I'd probably look for things to do in the evenings, so if there were movies going on with U.Va. students, I'd check that out," he said.
Specific information about the program will be released through Student Council, Resident Life and the Office of the Dean of Students mailing lists, Damiron said.
In the future, Student Council hopes to extend these services during both Fall and Spring Breaks, as well.
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