In returning from the Winter holiday, the question on everyone's lips seems to be: What did you do over the break?
"I sat a lot, wrecked a car and spent other people's money," said Justin Scarbrough, a freshman psychology major.
"I went home to northeast Tennessee, went skiing in North Carolina and came home and lay on the couch a lot," said junior journalism major Nikki King.
"I just took a road trip to Branson, Missouri," said Matthew McClure, a sophomore music performance major.
Students weren't the only ones who took advantage of the long winter holiday.
History professor James Chumney caught up on research over the break. He also followed up on one of many book reviews he has done for the Mississippi Quarterly, a history journal.
Chumney's time for research was almost taken away from him when he was selected for jury duty in early December. Fortunately, he said, the judicial system set him free and he was able to pursue what he wanted to do during the break.
"Changing tradition" was what Barbara Bekis, head of The U of M's Educational Support Program, was up to during the break. She said this break wasn't routine for her, mainly because it was the first time she had not traveled during the Winter holiday for the past thirty years. This time, Bekis said, she was actually able to take advantage of the holiday break and get some relaxing done.
Interim U of M President Ralph Faudree said he was very productive throughout the break. Faudree is a mathematician, and every year around the new year, he and three other mathematicians gather at one of their universities.
This year it happened to be Emory University in Atlanta, Ga.
In these yearly meetings, the four discuss new research and continuing projects they have a hand in.
"I also spent some time with my family and raked leaves like everyone else," Faudree said.
Crime prevention specialist Maurice Williams, better known to students as "Officer Moe," said he took his first Winter vacation in 16 and a half years at The University of Memphis.
"I went walking around in some of the nation's major cities and did some shopping in the Northwest," Williams said.
After enjoying his vacation time, Williams said he returned to Memphis to participate in the Liberty Bowl parade before attending the game.
