Campus groups host pre-finals relaxation events
On Thursday, Programming Board will sponsor a “fast-food” snack break in Novack starting at 9 p.m., according to Zakia Lghzaoui ‘13, Programming Board's programming chair. The event is held every term during reading period, according to Lghzaoui. Programming Board usually holds two “recovery events” each term, one after a big weekend and one during reading period, in addition to the snack break, she said. The events involve free massages, smoothies and “relaxation amenities,” Lghzaoui said. Because this term’s Green Key recovery event was especially large, however, Programming Board decided not to hold an additional event for reading period.
Active Minds, a mental health-focused student group, will not host any stress-relieving activities this reading period, Active Minds president Gabrielle Forestier ’14 said.
“It’s been a really hectic term, but we promise the stress-free events will be back in the fall,” she said.
Active Minds gave students in the library an opportunity to sign up for half-hour time slots with a therapy dog during reading period this past Winter term, according to emails from to campus from the organization. Previously, Active Minds has also hosted free “healthy food” giveaways in Novack during finals.
The Dartmouth Men of Color Alliance, Afro-American Society, La Alianza, Women of Color Collective, Programming Board and Native Americans and Dartmouth hosted an off-campus paintball event on Monday, according to Aaron Colston ‘14. The event, held at Whaleback Mountain in Enfield, NH, welcomed all students on campus to register and relieve stress through paintballing, according to the e-mail to campus by Colston.
Most students interviewed by The Dartmouth have not attended any organized stress relieving events during their time at Dartmouth, though they said they think the events are a good idea.
Gus Ruiz Llopiz ’14 said that he has “always been very tempted” to attend the events, especially Programming Board's free massage therapy, but becomes too caught up in his work. Kellie MacPhee ’14 said she was also interested in attended the events, but she becomes too comfortable in her study spot during reading period to leave.
Instead of attending organized events to mitigate stress, students said they manage their mental health by taking care of their bodies.
“I’ll take a break and watch a movie or go to the gym,” MacPhee said.
Laura McFeely ’13 said she manages her stress by ensuring she gets enough sleep.
Other institutions have more ritualized stress-reducers during finals periods, such as Brown University’s Heavy Petting and Naked Donut Run events. This April, as students were preparing for finals, the University held its termly Heavy Petting event in which faculty and staff brought their dogs to campus, according to the Brown Daily Herald. The event, designed to reduce student stress levels, allowed students to interact with the visiting dogs for the day. Brown also welcomes finals with the Naked Donut Run the night before finals period begins, according to the Herald’s blog. The event involves students running through the campus library naked and handing out donuts to those studying in the library, the Herald reported.
In similarly nude fashion, Yale University celebrates a tradition of students streaking through the campus library in a “naked run,” throwing candy at students in the library, according to the Yale Daily News.
At Columbia University, midnight on Sunday before the finals week of each semester is marked by a “Primal Scream,” according to a National Public Radio report. Students at the University participate in the tradition of collective screaming to vent for finals, NPR reported.