Food Stuff

For many people finals week conjures up images of students as sleep-deprived zombies, testing the limits of mental and physical endurance.

Students go for the record of the amount of papers and tests the body can handle on limited amounts of food and sleep. While she can't speak to students' sleeping habits, ARAMARK Resident District Manager Veronica Cruickshank says she sees just the opposite where students' diets are concerned.

"During finals week you'll see them eating a good, heavy dinner," she said of students eating in Benson and the Pit. She said students tend to eat lighter lunches during the busier days but they seem to know they can't get though this rough week without a sizeable dinner.

While more typical Benson Grill fare like the Steak Philly or Chicken Strips remain popular, Cruickshank said a square end of the day meal is typical of finals.

She admits that the coffee fix needed to make it until semester's end does get more students coming down to Benson and Shorty's for a cup of java. But there aren't any large increases.

Cruickshank and Sundry Shop workers also say the stereotypical image of a stressed out undergrad puffing a smoke isn't true on the whole either. Sundry workers say business remains relatively steady and Cruickshank said that cigarette purchases, in general, are down, "which is good."

Your Mother

The odd hours, lost sleep and early winter weather conspire to make finals an unhealthy time of year for many students. Though the start of flu season is still a few months off, stress can speed up the effects of those end-of-fall ills.

But there is hope Sylvia Bell, associate Health Services director, said. If students are looking for a guiding principle in what they should do to stay healthy during finals week, she said, "What everyone should do is exactly what their mom would tell them to do."

Dr. Cecil Price, director of Health Services, said although we have not yet met the full onslaught of flu season, Heath Services does see a slight rise in students coming to them for help as finals near.

He said many students chalk up minor symptoms to stress.

"If students are just a little bit sick, they might attribute their symptoms to stress," he said. "A lot of times they'll choose to ignore those symptoms."

Price said students shouldn't hesitate to get help if they are becoming seriously ill. Deadlines and hurried schedules are no reason to seriously risk your health, he said. Students with fevers or other symptoms that make it impossible to concentrate should never ignore them. But if students feel they can make it through the week without putting themselves at risk, then that is probably not an issue of concern.

"If they are functioning okay, if they are able to get their school work done, if they are able to sleep, then fine," he said.

Price said no student is immune from the disruption finals create in even a healthy students routine.

He said regular exercise and healthy eating and sleeping habits are a no-brainer. But health-conscious students can only do so much to stay on track during exams. Price said a little slip is no grave problem.

"You can't do that perfectly, and if you are otherwise young and healthy, just trying to do that the best you can will probably make a difference," he said.

He added students should try to keep their week as routine as possible.

He also encouraged students to do little extras like taking time out of studying for deep breathing exercises or stretching breaks so that the body can keep up with the mind.

Keep the Faith On a campus where religion plays such a large role, it would be impossible to discount the presence of students' faith during finals week. Although the Reverend Jude DeAngelo said he doesn't see students flocking to mass to pray for that last A, he understands many students turn to their faith in stressful times. The Catholic Community does what it can to accommodate the odd schedule of the week and also give students a study break with its Tuesday night mass.

"It's a tradition in the Catholic Community," DeAngelo said. "People take little break they get refocused on God a little bit."

DeAngelo, who has a lot of contact with students, said he thinks freshmen have an unusually tough time getting through finals. He added, however, that this semester has seemed more stressful to students than others he has experienced.

"I'm not saying professors are being unfair, I just think that has been the nature of this semester," he said.

There are a number ofother faith-oriented events including the Moravian Lovefeast, a campus institution.

Nowhere to run

Although it seems there is plenty to divert and support students this week, the fact remains that exams are the culmination of a whole semester's work. And whether you are a nostalgic senior or a wide-eyed freshman you can't deny that finals do shake up the routine.