While some students and faculty members are able to forget all about life at UB once Winter Recess begins, taking a complete vacation is not a possibility for members of the administration and students who hold executive positions at UB.
While each cherishes his or her vacation as much as anybody else, the word "vacation" might be a bit misleading.
"(People within the administration) have a total of two days off, Christmas Day and New Year's," said Dennis Black, vice president for Student Affairs. "Our calendar looks very different from the students' calendars. There are no four-week plans for our holidays."
Despite only having a brief reprieve, Black and his family find ways to personalize and enjoy Christmas together. Black said his two brothers and his sister join him, his wife and their two children in celebrating the holidays.
"At our house on Christmas Eve, Santa delivers a long family poem highlighting the year," Black said, noting the poem could include poking some lighthearted fun at family members who experienced particularly memorable events.
Besides the poetry recitation, Black said that for the past 25 years, Santa Claus has always delivered the Black family a game or project in which everyone can participate.
"Last year, Santa's version for the Blacks was, 'Who Wants to be a Christmas Bear?'" he said.
Instead of winning oodles of money like on the television game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," each of the winners in Black's version received a stuffed teddy bear.
While he enjoys his family traditions, Black said simply seeing his family is good enough.
"What you do is secondary," he said. "Having everybody together is what's important."
Student Association President Christian Oliver said he is shaking up his holiday traditions this year.
In the past, Oliver said he spent the holidays at home, bouncing between the households of several different friends and relatives. With a family of 32 first cousins, Oliver said holidays tend to be hectic.
"I have an extremely large Italian family," said Oliver.
This season, Oliver's celebration will be quite different.
"This year I plan on going down to Florida to visit my dad," said Oliver.
After catching some rays in Florida, Oliver said he is heading up to Montreal to celebrate New Year's Eve. From there, he will fly to Las Vegas for a week to vacation with his friends.
Although Oliver is planning on a small family dinner, he is not sure what else will be in store for him. One thing would be certain, however.
"I'm going to miss the snow," he said.
Despite all of his traveling, Oliver said he would not have the leisure of completely escaping his UB responsibilities.
Along with completing all of his law school applications, he said he must prepare for the upcoming Jan. 9 orientation for Student Association members.
"I'm going to be working a lot in between my trips to plan the SA orientation," he said.
SUNY Trustee George Pape said his vacation would be a mix of relaxing and tending to his duties within the SUNY Student Assembly.
"My holiday will start with a Board of Trustees meeting in New York City," said Pape.
After attending to business, Pape said he will spend Christmas at his mother's house in Pennsylvania, followed by a weeklong, New Year's visit to his father in Long Island, where he will cram in as much New York City sightseeing as possible.
"I'm definitely going to go to (the Metropolitan Museum of Art), see a Broadway play, and visit SUNY's offices in the city," Pape said. "And I definitely want to spend New Year's Eve in Times Square."
Pape said he was a little nervous about flying during this time of year, because the plane could be delayed in winter weather, causing him to miss the festivities altogether. But, Pape said, he was not too worried.
"I'm putting my complete faith in Jet Blue," he said.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
