May 06--Kelsey Erisman couldn't stop smiling as she stood in her dorm room kitchen surrounded by three of her roommates.
The 19-year-old CSU Channel Islands freshman said she was "definitely excited" to return to campus. Before she arrived, Erisman said, she didn't know what to expect.
Since she's attended the campus, the hillsides across from her Anacapa Village residence hall have always been green, she said.
"I was just in shock driving into school and seeing how burned the hillsides were. I've experienced fire throughout my life, but it's hard when it hits close to home like this," Erisman said.
CSU Channel Islands students were allowed to return to the campus and their dorms by 5 p.m. Sunday, three days after officials evacuated the Camarillo university and the nearby University Glen neighborhood, which were threatened by the Springs fire. The library also was reopened and expected to remain open 24 hours for the rest of the week before final exams next week.
The dormitories were full of activity Sunday afternoon as students rolled their hampers and luggage filled with books and other personal belongings down the hallways between their cars and the dorms. Freshman Sam Vukovich, 19, gently carried his betta fish with two hands and his guitar around his shoulder from his car to his dorm room.
Vukovich said he had just come back from staying with his family in Torrance. As soon as he walked into his dorm he was greeted by two of his roommates. They shared their extended-weekend experiences and the moments leading up to the evacuation.
"The good thing about living in a dorm is that you don't really have a lot of sentimental stuff because you've already downsized," freshman Andy Spyrka, 19 said.
Spyrka described the upcoming week as "hell week" for him as he scrambled to finish his homework and find time to study for final exams.
Some students said they planned to spend their Sunday night doing chores and settling back into their rooms. Others said they couldn't wait to get back on track and begin studying for finals and wrapping up projects and presentations that were stalled because of the evacuation.
"I was more scared of not getting my homework done than the school burning down. The professors expect it online," said senior Jon Artner, 23.
Senior Loren Oncay, 23, said one of her biology professors emailed the class and canceled the lab exam because of the stress the fire placed on the students. The professor plans to give students another opportunity to earn their grade, Oncay said.
said since the evacuations were ordered there has been an outpouring of support among students and teachers.
The process of getting back to normal is expected to continue Monday. Students were planning to write thank you cards to firefighters beginning at 12:30 p.m. in the student union treehouse courtyard, said sophomore Vanessa Bahena, the 19-year-old student body president-elect. Other events also are being planned she said.
"Online people have expressed how much they realize they care about the campus. Despite how much mayhem we've gone through this past weekend, people are still very spirited and ready to be back," Bahena said.
Copyright 2013 - Ventura County Star, Calif.
