By Erin Ratigan/tr news editor
While the stress of finals may seem overwhelming at times, the TR Campus Student Government Association has events planned to help students overcome their anxiety.
Purge Week will give students several options for fighting off stress.
April 28 has been titled Meditation Monday with the first-floor art gallery reserved for students to meditate.
From 9:30 a.m.-noon, the room will also be used by a South Campus massage therapist who will give free massages.
Meanwhile, the Action Room will serve as a study room 8 a.m.-5 p.m. April 28-29, and art therapy sessions will be held in the gallery.
To lighten the mood, library services associate director Danelle Toups will host laughter classes in the café at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
On the morning of April 29, SGA members will serve breakfast burritos to the first 100 students as well as a buffet-style lunch.
Following that is a Twitter scavenger hunt to promote student development associate Eddie Brassart’s “Ask Eddie” Twitter account. Winners can pick up their prizes at the Center for Student Involvement (TREF 1503C).
Organizer and SGA member Antonio Mercado said Purge Week is the SGA’s way of giving back to students.
“This is student-run, student-led,” Mercado said. “The clubs and organizations are all coming together, and they’re all donating their club donation funds for this event.”
Mercado said the inspiration for Purge Week came during a psychology class, where he and other students discussed the effects of stress.
“Someone said, ‘Well, you know, college campuses sometimes use dogs to come and de-stress the students before finals,’” he said, “and I just thought it was a really good idea.”
After class, Mercado talked to Brassart about scheduling a day of activities. From there, he said the ideas kept coming.
“It kind of snowballed into a weeklong event before finals,” he said.
On April 30, students can take part in a chalk competition outside the Idea Store with live music and popcorn provided. A TR art faculty member will judge the competition.
In addition, yoga classes begin at 9:45 a.m. and are open to students from beginners to experts.
Those interested in physical fitness are invited to take part in the strongman competition May 1 in the gym.
For less-athletic students, the SGA will host TCC Jeopardy on Friday, an event Mercado said is designed to “exercise the brain.”
On top of all these events and competitions, students will be given de-stress kits throughout the week, which include stress toys, snacks and strips of bubble wrap.
