Every semester, the week before finals, professors are courteous enough to not assign homework or give exams to their students. Some may know it as “hell week” or “book week” but on Murray State’s campus it is known as “dead week.” Campus organizations will often put on activities and events to help ease the stress that comes along with it.
“I’m expecting the calm before the storm,” said Sam Steinmann, freshman from Hamel, Ill. “Everyone is getting anxious because they know Christmas break is around the corner, but they still have to tackle all the important due dates and start studying for what’s next.”
A lot of universities have a similar tradition as Murray State. At Columbia University, students open their windows at midnight and scream to relieve stress. Some make it more extreme. At Penn State students run naked down the street. On Murray State’s campus there is a more subtle approach to relieving stress.
“I didn’t know it was even called dead week, but I spend most of my time in the library and it’s extremely stressful,” said Rachael Parrill, sophomore from Louisville, Ky.
Waterfield Library extends its hours starting Monday and is open 24 hours until Dec. 13 in order for students to feel like they can go at any time. Pogue Library will be extending its hours and will be open until 10 p.m. on Dec. 3–6 and then again from Dec. 10–13.
“Although we are very busy throughout the semester, it is not uncommon for every seat in the building to be filled during dead week and finals week.” said director of Public Services of University Libraries, Ashley Ireland. “It is apparent that hard, and perhaps sometimes frenzied, work is getting done here.”
Other student organizations also offer some relief. The Sociology Club will be offering students a showing of “The Great Debaters.” It will show at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Faculty Hall room 500. This will be their second annual movie study break.
Winslow Dining Hall will also host Midnight Breakfast where students can go and eat their favorite foods, served by the Student Affairs office. This year it will be from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Dec. 9. There are more than 200 giveaway prizes as well as T-shirts that will be given out.
Regardless of how students choose to relieve stress or what their major is, one thing is certain, finals week is coming, whether Murray State is ready or not.
Story by Kelsey Randolph, Contributing writer