By Mackenzie Bowring ’18
Staff Writer
As the weather gets warmer and spring weekend approaches, many students are still thinking ahead to the week most of us dread: finals week. Luckily, Merrimack has you covered with an extensive variety of help provided by the Academic Success Center and the Office of Student Involvement (OSI).
Open from Monday through Friday from 8:30a.m. to 4:30p.m, the Academic Success Center is located on the third floor of McQuade Library. Faculty and peer mentors are ready to accommodate all students between resources like the writing center and the tutoring and math center. Additionally, academic success coaching is offered for those needing a little extra guidance during such a busy and overwhelming time.
Building off student success and motivating students to be their best, Merrimack’s Active Minds organization put on a “Stress Less Week” that offered fun activities to take students minds off of homework and other stressors. Activities included a relaxation room, stress balls, yoga, tie dye stations, and desserts.
To complement the Academic Success Center and Active Minds’ initiatives, Assistant Director of Student Involvement Alyssa Cyr is excited to share what OSI has planned for finals week events this year. Below is a list of upcoming events taking place from Friday, May 5 to Thursday, May 11.
Farm animals: Starting on Friday, May 5 from 10:00a.m. to 12:00p.m., farm animals will be making an appearance on campus and can be found in O’Brien Hall. Those who are unable to make that time frame can interact with the farm animals from 1:00p.m. to 3:00p.m. the same day, but in Deegan Hall.
Therapy dogs: On Monday, May 8th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., you can find therapy dogs throughout the McQuade Library.
Snack break: An additional splurge involves some comfort food, perfect for study breaks and letting your brain breath. A “Finals Snack Break” on the first floor lounge will take place from 1:00p.m. until 3:00 p.m. During that time of day, Sparky’s has a break in between meals, so this is perfect for hungry students looking for a pick-me-up to hold them over until dinner.
Cram Jam: To not only work out your brain, but your body as well during finals week, OSI has planned another Cram Jam event that will be held in the MPR on Tuesday, May 9 from 9:00p.m. to 11:00p.m.
Massages: Knowing the lines for this event will be very long, OSI planned for two different sessions that will be held in the McQuade Library on Wednesday, May 10 from 12:00p.m. to 2:00p.m. and 5:00p.m. to 7:00p.m.
