Off-Campus Students are Big Fans of Finals Hours for On-Campus Eateries

Late December is the finals period at the University of Maryland, when even the most lackadaisical students are forced to buckle down and hit the books, many coming form off-campus to study with their peers.

Students congregate in McKeldin Library all throughout the year, but there is a noted increase in the amount of students in the building during the finals period. Good, nutritious food is not always readily available at the odd hours students keep while studying, and many on-campus eateries are adjusting their hours accordingly.

While the North and South Campus Diners also have extended their hours, students who live off-campus rarely eat there, and often find themselves at the Stamp Student Union or loading up on snacks at Footnotes, the café in McKeldin Library.

For these students, extended hours are especially helpful because many are away from their dwellings for hours or days at a time, embarking on marathon study sessions.

“It’s huge, in the past during my studies if I ever reached a point where I needed a snack or drink to power me through I would have to leave my study spot and go all the way back to my off-campus house,” says Danny Adamson, a junior who lives in Old Town College Park. “Now I can get everything I need right where I’m studying,” he added.

Time to study is valuable as students have only two weeks before finals start, according to Britton Smith, also a junior. “I’m not making many trips to campus, so when I do its helpful to have those open so I can cut down on going back and forth,” eliminating his travel time from his “Knox Box” house on Knox Road.

Snacks are not the only important offering at these locations; they also offer a variety of caffeinated energy drinks and traditional coffee to students who need an extra kick. “Sometimes when I’m up late studying I get hungry, and when I get tired I need caffeine,” says junior Walt Bonné. Bonné credits much of his academic success to caffeine, which will now be steadily supplied near the library, and not at his house.

Footnotes, the aforementioned café in McKeldin will be open 24 hours until December 16^th, while shops at the Stamp Student Union, including Chik-Fil-A, the Union Shop, and the Coffee Bar will be opening at 7 am during the finals period to cater to students ready to start a long day of studying, or hungry after pulling an all-nighter.