©2009 NCSU Student Media
For most students, the first week of exams is spent cramming, writing and overdosing on caffeine in preparation for finals, but opportunities for study breaks are all over campus as the semester comes to a close.
Campus Activities again is hosting StressBusters, a week-long collection of events and activities to keep students from being overwhelmed by end of course assignments.
Fountain Dining Hall will be open from 9 to 11 p.m. this week for Night Owl Meals, serving late night food and hosting events sponsored by different campus organizations. Campus Police, University Housing and the Inter-Residence Council will have board games and host karaoke at Fountain Monday night during Night Owl hours.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Tom Stafford will oversee Bingo Tuesday night, and Wednesday the Division of Undergraduate Academic Programs and First Year College will host Insect Cafe with Undergraduate Academic Program
Interim Dean John Ambrose. ComTech and the Outreach Communications and Consulting Group scheduled guitarist Kenny Shore to entertain diners Thursday night.
D.H. Hill Library will also give away free coffee each night until May 2 at 1 a.m. to help students through the night and will also be open 24 hours a day throughout exams.
Campus Recreation will host its Exam Jam Tuesday at Carmichael Gym and from 5 to 7 p.m. The event will feature activities at courts 9, 10 and 11 and at the rock wall.
Peter Koutroumpis, assistant director of Campus Recreation, said the Exam Jam has worked its way into students’ end of semester rituals, and that’s precisely what Campus Rec had hoped to accomplish with the biannual study break.
“We try to due it on Tuesday each time,” Koutroumpis said. “We’ve done it every semester for six years around the same time because it’s a short period of time between exams when students can recharge their batteries, eat some food and catch up with friends.”
Koutroumpis said students have begun to expect the Exam Jam during exam week each semester and the continued popularity of the event over the years has allowed attendance numbers to increase over time, and this week’s new events should help to continue the trend.
“A big feature we’re beginning is a great promotion with the rock wall and we’ll have several raffles,” Koutroumpis said. “We found a Kay Yow autographed basketball, and we’d like to give it away.”
Koutroumpis said food will be provided by Dominos, Panera Bread, and Jimmy Johns. He said he hopes the variety of food and activities will bring out the entire student body.
“There’s a little something for everybody,” Koutroumpis said. “We don’t want just freshmen and sophomores, but also junior and seniors to take that break and come by.”
There will also be lots of free activities and giveaways throughout the week as Talley Ballroom will feature Pet-a-Pooch Monday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the Brickyard will feature free pizza Tuesday at 11 a.m.
Centennial Campus will be the site for Ice Cream on the Oval Wednesday at noon, and Thursday there will be a free showing of Yes Man at Campus Cinema at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m..
The Bunny Hop fun run will begin Thursday at noon at the Lower Miller Fields. Check-in begins at 11 a.m. at the Carmichael Breezeway.