With finals coming to an end and the break between semesters beginning, most students look forward to a time to recuperate and relax before their next semester.
Unfortunately, this is not the case for many students living in Humber College’s residence.
On top of the stress of exams and final assignments, those living in Humber’s dorms are forced to leave by Dec. 18, disproportionately affecting international students who don’t have nearby family homes to return to during the break.
Lucas Bazarin Ribeiro, a Humber student living in residence. He has options in his living arrangements, unlike several international students. Photo credit: Liam Neilson
Lucas Bazarin Ribeiro is an international multimedia design and development student who travelled to Canada from Brazil. He lives in Humber College’s residence and works as a resident assistant.
Bazarin Ribeiro said he returns home between semesters, taking a 10-hour flight. He said that it can be unfair to international students who are unable to do this.
“Although a lot of students do wish to go back home for the holidays, there are a lot that can’t because of the distance or don’t have the finances to do that,” he said. “It would be beneficial to a lot of us to be able to stay where we are.”
“I’m pretty sure [Humber’s] residence has something with a hotel in Mississauga you can stay at, but there’s a deadline you have to apply by and they charge additional fees,” Bazarin Ribeiro said.
At the North Campus Residence, a Life Staff member named Ben, whose last name is being withheld for privacy reasons, said a block of the Delta Hotel in Mississauga is booked by Humber Residence for students without lodging during the break.
However, Ben said students must apply by a strict deadline.
“The deadline was Nov. 21, but that deadline has already passed, and now students will have to find their own accommodations,” he said.
Humber Student Matthew Redwood, worries about fellow residents who are scrambling to find accommodations for the holiday break. Photo credit: Liam Neilson
For many international students, the interim between semesters seems more of a headache than a break meant for them to relax.
Matthew Redwood, a domestic student enrolled in Humber’s 3D Animation program, made comparisons to the difficulties international students face at this time in contrast to the simplicity of being able to go back to a family home.
“I have buddies who are from India scrambling to find a place because it’s so much money to fly back to their homes,” he said. “I live two hours away from here, so I don’t know what I’d do if I needed to go somewhere that far.
“Do you try to rent a place out for a bit, do you stay with a friend or do you go back home? I don’t know, maybe the student services like IGNITE can help out with that,” Redwood added.
After inquiring about this possibility to IGNITE, Jackie Lam, a support employee for the student union, wrote in an email to that it offers no assistance to students finding themselves in a housing dilemma.
“Currently, we do not offer assistance for students having trouble finding a place to stay during the period between semesters,” Lam said in the email response.
Lam encouraged students facing this issue to go to Humber’s website regarding residence inquiries.
According to section 2.1 of the Residence Agreement, students who still do not have a solution to this problem have until Dec. 18, however can arrange to stay until Dec. 20 under the circumstance of having trouble finding off-campus accommodations.
But after this date, no exceptions are made and all students are required to vacate their dorm rooms until the return date of Jan. 6.
The agreement also outlines international students who require lodging before Dec. 6 may be permitted to return on Jan. 3, however a daily fee based on the size of their room will apply.
The daily fee is $30 for students in the single rooms, and $35 for students in suites. This is assuming the student has submitted their application for such service, which was due no later than Dec. 10.