Many students will be going home during Thanksgiving break to celebrate with their families, but some will be staying on campus for various reasons.

Ella Adam, a sophomore fashion design major, can’t afford the trip to travel back to her hometown, Dallas, Texas. 

“Flying back and forth for every break is really kind of expensive,” Adam said. “Especially paying off out-of-state tuition. I’m really close with my family, I have a really good relationship with them. This year is definitely hard for me.” 

Out-of-state and international students have a harder time going home during breaks due to the cost of travel. According to Kent State’s 2023 Kent campus data, there are over 800 out-of-state students and more than 100 are international students.

Adam said spending money on plane tickets for such a short break isn’t worth it and wishes the break were extended a little longer.

“It’s hard to go back for just, like, a week,” she said. “It was less than a week last year. I think I was home for maybe four or five days. If I’m paying for like a flight to go home, you want to kind of make it last.” 

Students will have limited dining options during the break. DI Hub, Rosie’s Diner and all dining in the student center hub will be closed Thursday Nov. 28 through Saturday Nov. 30. 

Eastway will be closed Nov. 28, but will be open on Friday and Saturday with limited hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.  

Restaurants in downtown Kent will offer some special Thanksgiving menus and the Kent Stage will be hosting a Thanksgiving concert on Nov. 21.

Local radio station Summit FM is partnering with the Kent Stage to host a free “Thankful Thanksgiving Concert” featuring Southern Avenue and Fruition. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. according to the Kent Stage website. 

Kent Panini’s offers special fall drinks during November and Belleria Pizza will announce specialty items closer to the holiday. 

Adam believes campus will look like a “ghost town” since so many students are going home. 

“I think a lot of students are leaving for Thanksgiving,” Adam said. “It’s always a ghost town when campus is dead.” 

Andrew Radigan, a senior history major, lives in an apartment near campus and appreciates the serenity that happens over break. 

“It’s really nice and the campus is empty,” Radigan said. “You can kind of walk around campus and nobody is around and it’s kind of like it’s all for you.” 

Other students who are on campus can feel isolated during a holiday that emphasizes community. 

“I’m the type of person that needs to be socializing with people at least once a day,” Adam said. “I have to give myself things to do to get myself out of my dorm.” 

“I think there should be like events for students to be around each other during the break,” Adam said. “If there was like an event to, like, properly connect students, that would be really nice.” 

Adam is hoping she can spend the holiday with some friends. 

“I have a lot of friends that live close around campus, so a lot of them are going back to their families for Thanksgiving,” she said. “One friend offered to take me back to her family.”

Radigan watches the movie “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” every year during the holiday and tries to learn new food recipes.

“It’s always nice to get into the festivities,” Radigan said. “I learned how to make stuffing, and I think I’ll make a pie this year.”   

Radigan said he appreciates having some peace during break, but enjoys the companionship that comes with being around friends. 

“Usually it’s always, like, go with your family, but Friendsgiving is almost more special and endearing because it’s the people you pick to be around you,” he said. “If you pick all your friends correctly, you can really have a good time.”

Aryn Kauble is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].