With this year's Mifflin Street Block Party already just another nostalgia-filled UW-Madison memory, students' attention and energy moves down to the next item on the \to do"" list: study for finals.
With just four days until the commencement of final exams week, University Health Services and the Greater University Tutoring Service are offering special finals week-related services.
Today UHS is promoting healthy eating habits by handing out free breakfast foods on the corner of Charter and Observatory from 8:30 to 11 a.m.
""We want students to eat a healthy breakfast during finals ... but we're also hoping they can learn to incorporate a healthy breakfast into their everyday lives,"" UHS nutritionist Liz Freitick said in a statement.
Breakfast items that will be served include bread, muffins, granola and bagels donated by Natural Ovens Bakery. Jamba Juice, 401 State St., is providing fresh fruit and smoothies. The event is part of UHS's ""Eat Breakfast, Pass Test!"" campaign.
GUTS is advocating a university-wide study day Friday. Tutors will be on hand at College Library, offering drop-in tutoring services to students from noon to 6 p.m.
""Students should make sure they're eating and getting some exercise and sleeping,"" said GUTS director Angelina Castagno. ""If they need help studying they should visit our drop-in center.""
Despite Castagno's advice, for many students, sleep deprivation is a traditional element of final exams week. UHS stress management counselor Rob Sepich insists, however, that receiving an adequate amount of sleep is a paramount ingredient in the recipe for academic success.
""Instead of pulling an all-nighter, even just getting four to six hours can be significantly helpful. You may recall material more effectively if you have had some sleep than if you have been up all night studying,"" Sepich said.
Sepich dismissed prescription stimulant drugs Ritalin and Adderall as possible solutions for students who find themselves under a mountain of work and stress.
""Students are ... producing enough adrenaline during this time of the semester that they can probably just rely on that to be focused and motivated enough to get things done,"" he said.
