To each person, the Christmas season means something different. Aside from family, friends, food and fabulous presents, it means a time for rushing, for haste. Despite the on-campus bubble in which most UD students live their lives, and the fact that students leave campus over a week before the big day, these individuals are not immune the rush of the season. Students may be more subject to the holiday rapidity in the few days before leaving for Christmas break: college kids move faster few times a year than when it's time to go home for break or go on vacation partly because of the anticipation for whatever he or she has planned for the days off, anticipation of the holiday and excitement that classes are over, at least temporarily.

But in the haste and the excitement, UD residents need to remember the basics, or they may return from break realizing that they have paid the price in a large way for their pre-vacation inconsideration.

Thankfully, the price to be paid is relatively unavoidable with just a bit of sensibility. Students need to lock their doors. Theft is an unwanted reality on campus and it would be absurd to think that since no students will be on campus for two weeks, there will be no robbery; the lack of students may, in fact, be enticing to the low-key criminals of the greater Dayton area. And think, what would be worse coming back from Christmas break to find your speakers, television and DVD collection missing, especially since a car full of presents pretty much means you aren't getting those DVDs back for a very long time unless you shell out your own money, which is probably either the undesirable option or the inexistent option.

Similarly, electronics should at least be turned off, if not unplugged. No one would want to come back and find their house and belongings damaged from a fire which slowly began and grew in houses or rooms. This said, unless a house full of friends enjoys 'interesting' stenches on a continuous basis, the refrigerator, no matter how large or small, should not be unplugged, especially if it is still holding perishables when the roommates leave for break.

Other small things that need to be put on a 'To-Do Before Break' list, besides studying for finals, taking finals and attempting to stay sane in the process, include closing all windows in all rooms, taking out the trash, and remembering to pack a charger for a laptop, iPod or cell phone.

No matter how basic these cautions and reminders may be, do not be surprised if upon coming back from Christmas break, roommates or their neighbors have rotting garbage, cell phones that desperately need to be charged, or, in an extreme case, a house or dorm room that has been stripped of all of its contents that were worth more than $20.

In general, it's a necessity to be sensible when leaving for vacation, no matter how excited a you may be to leave campus. All students should have to hope for over break is good grades, a safe trip back, and, of course, that the Serenity Pines resident raccoon and the overweight VWK garbage-loving possum are still there when you get back.