Campus Spring Break information

Residence halls close on Friday (March 23) at 7 p.m. Dining Services will close all residential dining operations at 2 p.m. on Friday, as well.

The residence halls reopen at noon on Sunday (April 1). Residential dining operations resume normal operations at 3:30 pm on Sunday, as well.

Students who have indicated they need holiday housing were sent an e-mail with instructions on how to sign up, associated cost, location and how to pick up keys. No groups are permitted to stay or arrive early.

The Mountaineer Parents Club will have multiple buses departing on Friday (March 23) from the Mountainlair and Towers areas. Those buses return on Sunday (April 1). For a specific bus schedule, visit: http://parentsclub.wvu.edu/schedules/hagerstown_md_allentown_pa_secaucus_nj.

The Student Recreation Center will be closed on March 24-25 and 31. It will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on March 26-30 and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on April 1.

The Mountainlair will close starting at 5:30 p.m. on Friday (March 23). It will open Monday through Friday (March 26-30) from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. before reopening for normal hours on Sunday (April 1) at 4 p.m.

As West Virginia University students prepare for Spring Break, the University Police department wants to encourage a safe and happy week off, enjoying the time, but keeping safety in mind.

Here are some tips to do so from Police Chief Bob Roberts:

On the road, buckle up. Also, take turns behind the wheel, and at least one passenger should stay awake to keep the driver company. Make sure everyone has a valid driver’s license and the vehicle registration is in the car before leaving. Bring sufficient money for gas, food and unexpected emergencies.

In hotels, ask for a room that’s above the first floor but below the sixth floor. Why? First-floor rooms are easier to break into, and rooms above the sixth floor are sometimes too high for fire ladders to reach. If safes are provided, use them for any valuables you may have. Keep doors and sliding doors locked, and don’t let anyone into your room unless you can trust them. Make a mental note of where the nearest fire exits and stairwells are located in case you need to evacuate.

At the ATM, try to go in groups but avoid getting overly complacent about safety just because you’re traveling in numbers. Try to go during daylight hours. When you approach the ATM, do a full 360-degree scan to look for anyone suspicious. When punching in your PIN, use your other hand to cover the keypad. If someone is suspicious looking, head to another location.

If you choose to drink alcohol, be smart and responsible. Pace yourself and avoid hard alcohol or other drinks that are powerful and have fast effects. Also, be aware of alcohol poisoning; research shows 75 percent of college males and 43 percent of females reported being intoxicated on a daily basis during Spring Break. If you do decide to drink, know the liquor laws at your vacation destination. Drinking and driving is always a dangerous situation, so avoid this by having your safe mode of transportation planned before you go out. Click here for more tips and facts about drinking alcohol at the BACCHUS website. Access a helpful tool right from your cell phone by visiting B4UDrink.Mobi and estimate blood alcohol concentration on your mobile phone.

On the beach, drinking in the sun can cause bad sunburn and an even worse hangover. Sun can maximize the effects of alcohol, so keep this in mind if you party on the beach. Take it slowly and stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. If you start feeling faint or light-headed, find shade and water immediately. In addition, use sunscreen of at least SPF 15 and reapply often. Pay extra special attention to your ears, nose, face and shoulders. If you are fair-skinned, wear sunglasses and a hat. Avoid sun exposure during the hottest hours, and remember that you can burn even when it’s cloudy.

In the water, jumping in without a lifeguard is putting yourself at risk. Even the most experienced swimmer can get caught in an undertow. In case you get caught in a rip current, don’t bother swimming against it. Instead, swim parallel to shore until the rip passes. Try to stay within the designated swimming area and always swim with a friend. It is also important to know and understand the flag system for water safety.

In the hot tub, drinking might sound like a good idea, but alcohol can dilute blood vessels and lower blood pressure to dangerous levels; the effects of alcohol are felt sooner and stronger in a hot tub. It can lead to unconsciousness and drowning.

When going out, go with your friends and go home with friends. This way, you can look out for one another. Also be on the lookout for signs of predatory drugs: extreme wooziness, confusion, difficulty standing and slurring speech. If you notice these symptoms in yourself, find your friends immediately and tell them to get you to a safe place. If you see these signs in a friend and they are severe, take them to the hospital.

When leaving the country, safety has a lot to do with what you pack when traveling abroad. Don’t bring flashy valuables like expensive jewelry and dress conservatively so you don’t stick out. Gather information about your destination beforehand, keeping in mind you are subject to the laws of the country you visit. To get a full list of tips for traveling abroad, click here.

When on a cruise ship, stick with your friends and watch your pockets when you get off the boat for stops. There are many cases of people being pick-pocketed by island residents who prey on tourists. For a whole list of tips about cruise safety, click here.

For more information on the University Police Department, visit http://police.wvu.edu/.

-WVU-

br/03/20/12

CONTACT: University Relations/News
304.293.6997

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