Students Begin Buckling Down for Finals

Taking Time to Share Tips on How They Stay Sane

By Casey Dainsberg (Story #8)

The Lower Hobson Union was a little more busy than usual on Tuesday afternoon. A certain anxiety and excitement filled the air as students rushed around the Union. Some were visiting friends they wouldn’t see until next semester, others were trying to use the last of their Beaver Bucks, and still more were hurrying to finish up last minute assignments. It is the last day of classes before finals start and students reflect the excitement associated with the end of the semester. Nevertheless, there is a certain level of stress that always finds its way into the end of the semester, and many a student is familiar with its presence.

Finals week affects each student differently. BSU Junior Nate Erickson said so far this year finals week seems to be shaping up to be fairly normal when compared to past years. “It’s pretty typical of the past,” he said, “some stress here and there, I have to read for a lot of subjects, but in all fairness it’s not too stressful for me.”

The clatter of plates and the excited conversations of students discussing their upcoming break and final tests in the Hobson Union food court didn’t faze Erickson. He continued on, casually explaining why he likes Finals Week. “What I really like about Finals Week is you don’t have class, so you do have time to study for these things, even though you do have to study a lot for them.”  Erickson also noted that another component of Finals Week he liked, was the fact that once everyone is studied out, “You can really just hang out with people…you’re all in the same boat, all working through the same stress.”

Sitting at the same table, quiet and thoughtful BSU Junior Nick Lorenson, picked up his fork and began eating the taco bowl he had obtained from the food court just moments before. As a transfer student in his first year at BSU, Lorenson fell on the opposite side of the spectrum as Erickson when it came to the stresses associated with finals. He joked that on a stress scale between one and ten he was at “Thirteen,” having been up for the previous forty hours without sleep working on final assignments. Sleep deprived but his sense of humor still intact, Lorenson continued with a laugh and said, “I’m learning that my body is able to go on less sleep than I ever thought possible.”

Matthew Weeks said that playing with the animals
helps him to de-stree during finals.
(Photo by Casey Dainsberg)



Lorenson was not the only student experiencing the physical tolls of stress. Matthew Weeks, a design technology major in his fourth year at BSU said, “I was so stressed out last night trying to finish a project that I had a migraine and I was nauseous.” For students dealing with the stress of finals, Hobson Memorial Union and the Lifestyle Educators Organization hosted a De-Stress Yourself event. They provided a place for students to stop in and de-stress in the Crying Wolf Room, in the Lower Hobson Union. Pets were there from the Beltrami County Humane society for students to play with and cuddle. They also provided massages, and the Club Mud (ceramics club) was selling hot chocolate and ceramic mugs.





BSU Junior Reid Nichols holds one of the kittens at

the De-Stress Yourself with Pets event in the Hobson Union.

(Photo by Casey Dainsberg)



BSU junior Reid Nichols, said that he, “Came to hang out with the cats,” because it reminded him about his cats at home. The pets were probably the biggest hit of the event, most students waiting patiently to spend some time playing with the frisky, loving animals. There were three dogs that were about six months old, and two kittens. The kittens climbed in and out of the arms of students, curiously exploring tables and chairs, and sometimes curling into a soft, fluffy ball of contentment in the arms of students for a quick rest. The three puppies relished the pats and scratches they received from adoring students, but often would wander off, sniffing and exploring the room until called back with an enticing treat or toy. Weeks said that playing with animals, “is really relaxing to me.”




 


Students gathered around and waited their turn to play with the friendly
pets at BSU's De-stress yourself event in the Crying Wolf Room.
(Photo by Casey Dainsberg)

 

Students have learned how to deal with the stress of finals differently. “I’m usually not a good one to ask about Finals Week,” laughed Erickson, “because I actually like Finals Week; I’ve learned to take the stress off.” Erickson explained how he does that, amid humorous quips from his friends, saying that over the years he has, “Learned to accept whatever grade I get, and whatever grade I’ve earned… I’m not going to kill myself to put in that extra effort to get an A, when I’ve got a C in the class.” Erickson said he also puts a lot of emphasis on other things, not just academics.

Lorenson also talked about how he deals with the stress of finals, taking a bit different approach than Erickson. “Lots of caffeine!” he laughed, and then continued more seriously saying, “Just taking it one step at a time.” Lorenson also said he finds it important to take time to just laugh, “Yesterday I went on Youtube and I looked up the funny moments of Home Alone…I couldn’t have done anything more to refresh myself better.” With that, Lorenson also said he keeps in mind the fact that the end of semester is near, and break is coming up.

 



For seniors, the stress can be even more rampant. Senior Brittany Story, a Social Work major graduating this semester, said that compared to past years, this semester was most stressful for her. “There was a lot riding on the finals,” she said, “it’s my last chance to get a good GPA.” Story explained that many of her tests were an accumulation of everything she’s learned over the years, and as a result much more difficult and stressful. “I had a lot of finals that were take-home, so there was a lot of stress all at once,” she said, however after working on them over the weekend, she said she, “actually got ahead, so I’m not as stressed as I would have been if I had waited.”

As a senior, Story has had her fair share of finals. She said that the best advice she would recommend to students is, “Don’t procrastinate, make a schedule and stick to it. Work on stuff progressively as you go, instead of waiting ‘til last minute because that creates a lot of stress.” She also encouraged students to live a healthy lifestyle, and take a break once in awhile, “Make sure to take breaks, and do something fun, exercise, eat right, and make sure you’re sleeping well.” Lorenson had similar advice to offer students, saying, “You can never start something too early, so just remember as you’re looking down space things out…take things one step at a time.”

WORD COUNT: 1,138

BSU stays silent

But helps with finals

By: Luke Landgraf

Word count: 820

(story 8)

If you were to walk into a dorm in the past week , you wouldn’t see or hear much of anything. Across BSU, dorms stay quiet for grand silence for students to study for their finals.  BSU helped with their students by providing them with study breaks with the comedian Jay Black and midnight breakfast at Walnut along with couple of other things.

The grand silence started Tuesday Dec. 7 at 11pm and went through Dec.. 15 at 4 pm.  For some students this grand silence was very beneficial but for some who didn’t really have finals it was a burden. “ I didn’t have any finals I just had couple of papers that I had to write and I got them done like a week ago,” said Emily Gieser a BSU freshman “this grand silence thing was kind of boring.  But in respect of my neighbors the whole idea of grand silence is a good idea because im pretty sure that I will be stuck with couple of finals next semester.”

The grand silence means that the quiet hours take place during the day as they would at night.  There was a time during the day where students could open there doors for a little hallway social time with their peers, during dinner time and that was from 4:30-6:30.  But other than this time students are not allowed to have their doors open and the noise that comes from their room has to be minimal. During this time students could do things they could do on any normal day. For example vacuums were available to students at this time but when respect hours started up again there were no longer. 

Jay Black was here at BSU on Dec. 8 and his act was from 9-11 pm in HA 100.  “He was kind of funny, it was way better than sitting in my dorm room and studying that’s forsure,” said Nick Barratto a Sophomore at BSU “ he had a lot of different jokes, he was nothing like the guys on TV but it was good to get away from the stress of finals for a bit.”

That same night BSU put on a midnight breakfast for their students at walnut from 10-12. There was roughly about 700 students that attended the midnight study break.  “ The food there was really good, the eggs were kind of weird but its way better  than the normal food they server at walnut,” said Alyson Lehman who is a freshman at BSU “as good as it was it was a long wait to get your food cause there was so many kids there but it was totally worth the wait.”

Along with those things that BSU provided there was still more.  In crying wolf on Dec. 7^th there was “De-Stress With Pets.”  This was where students could go play with multiple types of pets that are in the early stages of their life and distress themselves.  Most of the animals that were there at Crying wolf were puppies that were brought from the human society.  The event was sponsored by Living Well,  Lifestyle Educators, and the Human society.  Along with animals available to be played with to relieve stress the animals are also up for adoption to a good home.

One of the final events that BSU put on for their students was Mediation Moment.  This event is to help students with anxiety relief.  They accomplished this by playing a tape filled with relaxing sounds to clear the mind and allowed students to forget about the stress and the mental punishment that finals could have.

Grand silence is not only a bad thing for a student who doesn’t have finals but it’s also bad for the Residential Assistance (RAs). “ I have had to write up more students for being loud in the last week then I have written up all year,” said Will Joerger an RA in Oak Hal “It sucks for me because I don’t like to be a  mean person but I do have to do my job, and you’re not supposed to be loud during grand silence and the residents know that. They also know that they cant have their doors open during the silent time and I have to keep walking around to shut their door and that gets really old, but it will all be ok. Soon all the residences will be done with finals and they will be on their way home.”

These were the signs that were found in the dorms across BSU that informed the residence of when grand silence started, ended, and what the expectations were.

Walnut is the location where the midnight breakfast took place.  Many students took time out of their studying schedule to come and eat a midnight snack with their peers and get away from studying.

BSU Prepares for Finals

Students Should Expect a Change in Schedule

By Andrew Pooch and Nick Jelacie

            A semester that began in the ninety-degree heat of August will come to its close this week in the sub-zero temperatures of December.  Students will find themselves adjusting to a different schedule than what they were used to during the semester.  Many will also begin their finals rituals that help them through this busy time of year.

            The change in schedule comes from within the records office at BSU.  Dave Carlson is a registrar responsible for some key scheduling decisions. He became registrar in 1993 when BSU was still on the quarter system.  He inherited a protocol for the system, but in the fall of 1998, BSU went to semesters.  They needed a new scheduling parameter.

“I was responsible for setting it up, printing it out and getting it approved by the faculty senate,” said Carlson.  BSU has used the same system to organize finals week since the fall of 1998. 

            The way Carlson designed the format was to spread out the most popular classes on different days.  This would create the best probability for students to have their finals distributed throughout finals week. Each class that is two credits or higher is assigned a two-hour time slot during finals week.  One-credit and night classes have their finals during the last meeting time for the class.

            “There is constant discussion about the two-hour time slots,” said Carlson.  “Faculty Senate brings it up every year during our schedule meetings.”

            This two-hour time slot gives professors the opportunity to lengthen their finals, which some students can find overwhelming.  Not all professors craft their final to fill two-hours, but the ones that do, pressure their students to study more.

            Students around campus have mixed feelings about the class schedule.   Some prefer the different time slots, others find it tough adjusting to change.  BSU provides students with a reading day where no classes or finals are held to ease the transition into finals week.

            Sophomore Matt Ellinghuysen said, “I used the reading day to tie up loose ends with my class work and study any material I needed to work on.“ He also felt that finals week was just another week of school, but is too drawn out.  He thought the two-hour time slot was too long.

            Other students see it as more free time to enjoy their hobbies. 

“I have one final at the end of finals week,” said sophomore Riley Hirsh.  “I basically just sit around and play video games, but might go to the library just to get out of my house.”

            The finals schedule forces many students to change their habits.  Some form rituals for every finals week and others find time to manage the newly acquired free time. 

            Junior Kevin Plzak enjoys balancing his studying time for finals with his gaming schedule.  “I don’t need any extra time for studying; it’s just another week of school for me.”

            Others may find it more difficult to take on the task of finals.  Some students like senior Nick Zemke find themselves stuck in the library during finals week. 

            “I have trouble concentrating at home, so I spend a lot of time in the library,” said Zemke.  “I have finals in all of my major classes which require a lot of studying.”

            For students that needed a break before finals, the Hobson Union Programming Board organized de-stressing activities that students could participate in prior to the busy finals week.  There were puppies and kittens for students to play with in the Crying Wolf Room, a massage area near Java City and free stress ball handout at the Hobson Union desk. The Campus Activities Board arranged for Comedian Jay Black to entertain students during the reading day.

            As far as changes to come in the finals schedule, Carlson doesn’t see any significant changes happening anytime soon.  Ellinghuysen and Hirsch would like to see shorter finals slots and fewer days in the schedule.

            Carlson said, “If anyone has a suggestion, they can bring it to me, faculty, faculty senate, representatives of the faculty or the academic vice president.  We are always looking for ways to improve the schedule.”

Junior Kevin Plzak takes a break from studying to play Call of Duty.  Photo taken by Andrew Pooch.

Registrar Dave Carlson (not pictured) works in the records office to make a streamlined finals schedule for BSU.  Photo taken by Andrew Pooch.

Sophomore Matt Ellinghuysen takes a break from finishing an assignment on D2L.  Photo taken by Nick Jelacie.

BSU students deal with Christmas fever differently

December is a month of
crowded stores

By
Jake Kelly and Zuzka Tomcikova

The smell of fresh trees, the little sparkling lights, and the decorations all around the house bring us a very calm and happy atmosphere. The smell of Christmas cookies, delicious food and the sound of laughter and cheerful music makes Christmas a favorite amongst holidays. Family is most important during this holiday. Presents have become a crucial part in the tradition of christmas and in light of that family members are always searching for the best gifts to give their loved ones.

Buying gifts is a hassle and as December rolls around, the stores change into  jungles. People are walking around malls, in a hurry and with a determined look on their face. The sound of a cash register comes from every store, the  christmas sale signs are put up almost everywhere, Christmas music is playing in the background.

The holiday season is coming around and everybody wants to get the best presents for their family and friends. They don’t want to miss any great gift ideas that the stores provide. Cost and originality is key in the purchasing decision of consumers. In Bemidji the store selection is very limited; the Paul Bunyan mall has a lot of shoppers rushing through. Brittany DeBoer, a worker at J. C. Penney hustles through the store, folding and organizing items in the store. “It gets really busy before Christmas,” DeBoer says. “But I don’t mind; the time passes by much faster at work, and the people are in a good mood when they find something they like, and that puts me in a good mood also.”

Some people think ahead and start the shopping earlier so they don’t feel rushed once it comes close to the holidays, because the shopping rush before Christmas might be stressful. Erika Wheelhouse, a BSU sophomore tries to handle the stress level by starting her Christmas list in November. “I start a list in mid-November, and I work through it as the days roll,” said Wheelhouse. “I try to get some presents early, so I don’t feel that pressured when there is only a week left till Christmas and the stores are full of people.”

There are many ways to brainstorm for Christmas gifts and many retail stores make sure that their deals are stuck in the shoppers head. Advertising signs are everywhere, and the televsion and radios are full of Christmas ads. The stores promote everything you can imagine, from electronics, clothing, jewelry, up to house hold appliances. “We are trying to give good deals to bring shoppers into our store,” said DeBoer. “Even if they come looking for a particular thing, most people purchase more and that’s what we like to see.”

The Internet has made a huge impact on the way shopping is done. It is an easy and comfortable way to purchase gifts with the luxury of being at home. Squeezing through other people to get the gifts you are looking for in the store is out of the picture. All Internet shopping requires is a credit card, and a computer connected to the Internet. Jeff Marin is one of the people who prefer to shop online. “I just turn the computer on and order stuff I want,” said Marin. “Most of the time it’s even cheaper than going to the store, and everything I order comes to me.”

Although shopping online is comfortable and in many cases more affordable, most people still prefer to get their gifts in the stores.  “Christmas shopping has a different atmosphere, the snow is on the ground, the lights are twinkling, and it just feels like you’re in a fairytale,” said BSU junior Alana McElhinney. Some people ignore the stress factor and simply enjoy the fact that they are trying to purchase something that will make their friends and family happy. Walking around stores is also a way to brainstorm. “Sometimes I just go shopping without a clue,” said McElhinney. “I find stuff just walking around, and that makes it more fun.”

No matter if people look for gifts online or in the store, the main idea behind the gifts is to make the loved ones happy with the presents. The smile on the face of the loved ones is always brought by the look under the Christmas tree. Especially children have a sparkle in their eyes running down the stairs Christmas day, seeing that Santa has brought gifts. Seeing the joy of children ripping the wrapping paper, and hearing the excitement makes up for all the hours spend searching for the gift. “Even though I hate Christmas shopping, seeing my little cousins open the presents makes up for it immediately,” said BSU junior, Jeffrey Johnson.

Story #8 (Final Story)

The Store where everything really is FREE

BSU Students donate to and shop at the ‘Free Store’

By Rhea Wawrzyniak

Word Count: 914  



By Rhea Wawrzyniak

The entrance to the “Free Store” is located
 in the back left corner of the Sustainability
 Office and Excellence in Leadership Center
 where the “Free Store” and “Suit Yourself”
share a room.



Students need to pay for more than the classes they take. There are a lot of other expenses when it comes to getting a college education, including books, folders, notebooks, writing utensils, computer, clothing, and a place to stay just to name a few.  

There is a resource on campus where students can get some of these things for free. The “Free Store” is located in the back left corner of the Sustainability Office and Excellence in Leadership Center, where they share space with “Suit Yourself”.

The hand written sign above the wooden door entrance reads “Free Store” in red and “Suit Yourself” in green. The room takes the form of an “L”. The “Free Store” comes first and consists of counters and cabinets filled with supplies for school. Exploring more into the room is racks of clothing for “Suit Yourself”.     



By Rhea Wawrzyniak

Before leaving the “Free Store” students
write the date and the item they took.



At “Suit Yourself” students, men or women can take business suits for free. When “Suit Yourself” was getting started they had to build their own coat racks using wires, belts and wood blocks, and some are still there today.

The “Free Store” opened last February after BSU senior Crystal Rayamajhi was inspired by an article about a California student who collected items around campus and brought them to a warehouse where students could shop for free.

Rayamajhi’s idea came to life at BSU with the help of Mary Tosch, associate director of Hobson Memorial Union. “People were supportive,” said Rayamajhi, “It was not that hard to get going.”

After cleaning out the space, and putting cabinets in, BSU had a functional “Free Store”. In the wooden cabinets are glasses, cooking items, Tupperware, vases, kitchen utensils, holiday decorations, electronics, writing utensils, office supplies, and a few miscellaneous drawers. Across the back of the light colored counter are folders and blue three-ring binders. To the left of the entrance a wooden bookshelf holds donated books.      



By Rhea Wawrzyniak

Many people donate used folders
and binders to the “Free Store”.



One of the craziest things brought in was a duffle bag filled with pencils that had furry heads with glued on eyes. Rayamajhi was not sure who would want these, but a week later half of them were gone. “You just never know what someone may find useful,” said Rayamajhi.  



By Rhea Wawrzyniak

People donate used books to the “Free Store”.



Rayamajhi said that most students want to bring in clothing. The store has taken some in the past, but they encourage students to bring clothes to goodwill, they just don’t have room. If people want to donate worn clothes they can cut them into rags first and the store will use them that way. “If you would not feel good about giving something to your friend, don’t donate it,” said Rayamajhi.

Rayamajhi wishes that more students would donate microwaves and small refrigerators because those items are sometimes hard to transport and very useful in dorms.



By Rhea Wawrzyniak

Dishware small and large is
donated to the “Free Store”.



The notebooks are items that sell fast at the beginning of the year. Rayamajhi would like to see more notebooks, calculators, pens, and pencils donated. “Some people have a hard time paying for school,” said Rayamajhi. “If we can offer some of these items, that can shave off a little of the expenses.”



“Books are expensive,” said Brett Jasperse, BSU sophomore. “It is nice to be able to stop by and get free notebooks or folders for class.”  

There is no record of things that have been donated, but when students take items they write the date and what they took on a sheet of notebook paper. So far, there have been 2,247 items given away.



By Rhea Wawrzyniak

A popular donated item, writing utensils, fill a drawer in the “Free Store”. 



There is always a time to donate. Students can drop off items anytime in the sustainability office, across from the BSU bookstore, or just leave them by the door and they will get picked up in the morning by the sustainability staff who maintains the “Free Store”. The “Free Store” will also put out “Donate Don’t Dumpster” bin in the dorms, which are designed to reduce waste during move-out. Also, jute bags are given away to students who donate while the supplies last.  



By Rhea Wawrzyniak

“Suit Yourself” clothes, where you can suit
yourself for free to get to kick off their careers.  



Donating is not just for the students, but for faculty, staff and administrations at BSU. “We really appreciate everyone’s efforts to donate to the ‘Free Store’,” said Rayamajhi. “It is a cool way to see the BSU community come together.” 



Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. is when the “Free Store” was open this semester, and next semesters hours will change as Rayamajhi’s schedule changes.



Rayamajhi’s favorite thing about the “Free Store” is that is reduces waste and helps students. She believes that the store is successful, “We have had a lot of people come through the store, and we have given away a lot of items.”