Campus has many relaxing hangouts

Many find that their hours of sleep have dwindled to near nothing as they consume ever-increasing amounts of coffee.

Others find their brains turning to mush as they attempt to cram a semester's worth of required textbook reading into one day.

Just like that we find ourselves wandering through finals week that dreaded time when many students find themselves pulling all-nighters to try and salvage a grade that hovers at the D+/C- level.

So in an effort to soothe stress-filled minds, several organizations, businesses and departments on and around campus are offering students a place of respite before, after or between finals.

The Cal State Long Beach Women's Resource Center is hosting a "Surviving Finals" week, where weary students can stop by for free food, beverages and treats from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Thursday and Friday and from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.

For those seeking an age-old stress cure, The Nugget on upper campus will serve beer from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Thursday, they will host an after-finals celebration from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you're seeking a quiet, peaceful place to relax, Hard Fact Hill, located just below Peterson Hall 3, offers students a spot to collect one's thoughts or simply recoup energy before sitting down for the next final.

And there's always the campus library, which will have extended hours during finals week from 7:45 a.m. to 1 a.m.

The information center at the University Student Union will offering free doughnuts and coffee for students and the video games on the bottom floor can serve as a pleasant distraction from finals.

Whaley Park, located across from campus on Atherton Street, offers open green spaces for students to relax and stretch out, and if one is willing to walk to the corner of Atherton Street and Palo Verde Avenue, Pizzamania offers the college staples of pizza and beer, at a reasonable price.

If possible, consider walking, biking or skating to campus during finals, as experts claim exercise can help reduce stress levels and put one's thoughts into focus.

So before you get too wound up worrying finals, take advantage of what the campus community has to offer students suffering from exam anxiety.

Kristopher Hanson is a staff writer for the Daily Forty-Niner.