While many students are skipping Wednesday classes to drive to their hometowns while dreaming of sweet potatoes and pumpkin pies, others will not be spending Thanksgiving athome.

French senior Daniel Ibarra, will spend this Thanksgiving in Austin studying. Although he has no finals, he has five tests lined up for the week after Thanksgiving, he said.

“I’ve always had the same situation where I have all these tests,” he said. “I force myself to stay here. I’m used to it already, so it’s not bad.”

Instead of driving home to El Paso, Ibarra said he’ll cook himself a small Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday.

The Residence Hall Association will hold a Thanksgiving dinner for students staying at school, said association program manager LT Robinson. This year’s dinner will be held at 5 p.m. in the San Jacinto Multipurpose Room and will be followed by a watch party of the UT vs. Texas A&M football game.

This is the first year that the Residence Hall Association will host the dinner, which was originally hosted by the Division of Housing and Food Services, Robinson said.

“We wanted to provide an opportunity for students to have a good meal during Thanksgiving,” she said. “We want to make sure that we have something for students who are staying on campus.”

The dinner typically provides for 75 to 100 students, and this year, the RHA is expecting about 80 attendees, Robinson said. Turkey and mashed potatoes are served along with vegetarian options such as veggie lasagna and a grilled veggie platter as well as pumpkin pie, she said.

Biology senior Krystal Lopez also has five tests in the week following the holiday and will not be driving home.

“This is going to be my first time not going home since I’ve been here,” she said. “The reason I’m OK with it is because my family isn’t really going to celebrate either because they need to run errands in Mexico.”

Lopez said she plans to spend her holidays with other sisters from Kappa Delta Chi and watch the game.

Many students who are not returning home for the holiday will be spending their Thanksgiving in College Station for the annual Thanksgiving Day game against A&M. Journalism freshman Emma Chase will play the baritone at halftime and will spend thanksgiving with the other 380 members of the Longhorn Band.

“It’ll be interesting,” she said. “It’s been a long time since I haven’t been home on Thanksgiving. Instead of family, I’ll be surrounded by a bunch of friends. The game day will be different but fun.”

Although her family will postpone Thanksgiving dinner until her return on Friday, she will still miss being with them on the actual day, Chase said.

“I guess saying ‘I’m upset’ would be a little extreme,” she said. “I’m excited to go to the game. It’ll be that last time we play A&M for at least eight years, but I’m at a point in the semester where I feel like I want to break. I wish I could have more time at home.”

Printed on Wednesday, November 23, 2o11 as: Residence hall hosts Thanksgiving dinner