By Brooke Coupal ’16
Editor-in-Chief
Finals week can be a stressful time for college students, so Merrimack is putting on a variety of stress-reducing activities for people to go to as study breaks.
One of the most anticipated events is entitled Puppies and People, taking place Dec. 16 from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. Students are able to go to either the Multi-Purpose Room (MPR) or the Library during the allotted time slot to pet and spend time with dogs. The organization Pets & People are the volunteers who are bringing their dogs in for this relaxing activity.
“Spending time with a dog can alleviate stress in several ways: animals provide non-judgmental love and affection; petting an animal can increase levels of the stress-reducing hormone oxytocin and decrease production of the stress hormone cortisol; students who miss their pets from home will enjoy spending time with a dog; and the event will generally provide distraction and a break from studying,” stated Katell Guellec, the Director of Hamel Health and Counseling.
The Office of Student Involvement is sponsoring massages in the library on Dec. 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. and Dec. 16 from 3 to 5 p.m. The annual Cram Jam is also happening on Dec. 15 from 9 to 11 PM.
The Wellness Education will have a Make Your Own Tea booth at Cram Jam where students are able to mix different types of teas and learn information on each type.
Hamel Health and the Wellness Education Office are available for students who want to reduce stress during finals week. Hamel Health also has various podcasts on their website for students looking to reduce anxiety.
