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Sleep experts: Prioritize rest this week National Sleep Foundation says bad classroom performance often linked to sleep deprivation Joanna Banegas Staff Writer
As students constantly strive to keep themselves awake during class, through chugging energy drinks after partying until four in the morning, sleep seems to be out of the picture for college students. According to the reports of National Sleep Foundation, 63 percent of the college students in the United States suffer from sleep deprivation. Lee Salter, director of the University’s counseling center, said students are more likely to make mistakes, do badly on exams, and become more irritable and emotional the following morning when students do get enough sleep the previous night. “They are more tired and it is more difficult to concentrate, more difficult to problem solve, and more difficult to remember information,” Salter said. “And those are pretty important factors while taking exams.” Salter said the main reason students are sleep deprived is because they are not making sleep a priority. “Students who come in the counseling center have difficulties with sleep and the things that help the most are waking up at a regular time every day,” Salter said. “You go to sleep very easily
Businesses vary in holiday decoration methods, timing Staff Writer
Mara Kurtz/Technician
Many students often find it difficult to keep up with a regular sleep routine during Dead Week and exams. Alison Palmer, a junior in animal science, takes a break from studying for a lab practical by napping. “Dead Week and the week of finals can be really stressful. I am really looking forward to the end,” Palmer said.
and tend to wake up very fresh and the hours that somebody needs depends on the individual but any student should get at least six to eight hours at night.” Other factors to consider is having a comfortable and quite place to sleep, Salter said. “Noise and discomfort can result in waking up and so can a place that is too hot or too cold,” Salter said.
In addition to being comfortable for a good night’s rest, it is also important to have a consistent sleep schedule, Salter said. “With jobs and school schedules, people need to be able to get up and be fresh in the morning,” he said. “Some people need to change schedules. Napping during the day is not the best solution. It is better to get sleep all at the same time.”
Campus Activities has stress-free events planned throughout exam week Jessica Neville Staff Writer
Amanda Wilkins/Technician
Savannah Revelle, a freshman in mathematics, pets Emmett, a beagle mix, who crawled into her lap at STAT’s Lighten Your Load event Dec. 2. Compassionate Options for Progressive Eldercare is bringing a similar event, Pet-A-Pooch, to the Talley Ballroom Wednesday.
Pet-A-Pooch helps de-stress Staff Writer
Raleigh, North Carolina
Adair-Hayes Crane
According to the National Sleep Foundation, a short nap of 20 to 30 minutes can improve mood, alertness and performance. However, there are negative effects to napping if its lasts for more than 30 minutes. The Foundation reported that too much sleep can be accompa-
SLEEP continued page 4
Diversions this week include RecFest, Night Owl meals
Caroline Barfield
fall 2009
Businesses put up holiday decorations at different times
Stressbusters offer breaks from tests
Animals help students relax during exams
exam week extra
Where can I Pet-A-Pooch? Pet-A-Pooch will be in the Talley Ballroom Wednesday from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
This week, students find themselves in the season of exams, which is typiSource: Center for Student Leadership, cally one of the most stressful times Ethics and Public Service of a college student’s semester. To help alleviate some of the scholastic tension, the Center for Student mals back,” he said. “Bringing aniLeadership, Ethics and Public Service mals to campus creates a more natural is offering pet therapy through Pet- environment and takes the students’ minds off of studyA-Pooch Dec. 9 in the ing.” Talley Ballroom from Gust said Pet-A5:30 to 7 p.m. Pooch offers several Compassionate Opbenefits. tions for Progressive “Animals require Eldercare is bringa lot of attention — ing Pet-A-Pooch an especially puppies — event where animals and by giving them are brought in for stuattention it takes your dents to pet and play mind off of things with, to campus, that are going on Mike Gust, a sophduring the strenuous omore in education, Jana Decoster, a sophomore exam week,” he said. said he was unable to “It also gives an attend the event last in education, on Pet-A-Pooch opportunity to meet year but was looking forward to the furry break during his people and opens up opportunities to find study partners.” studying. “I didn’t get to go last year but am glad that they are bringing the aniPOOCH continued page 3
“I like dogs and seeing them during exams ... will be a nice change of atmosphere.”
STRESSBUSTERS? For a complete schedule of what’s going on this week, check out the Stressbusters advertisement at the bottom of page 3.
With two weeks of days sched- students to get rid of stress beuled for nothing but studying and fore exams,” Karpf said. “When taking exams, it’s easy for students students go back to studying they to become overwhelmed. Campus will be more focused because they Activities staff members are doing took a break.” Gardner said Campus Activities their part to remedy this problem by offering opportunities for stu- will serve free pizza on the Brickdents to shut their textbooks and yard Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to take part in some fun and relaxing 1 p.m. as long as supplies last. The Carolina Hurricanes will also have events. Stressbusters is a collabora- a booth and will give out prizes. tion between Campus Activities On Centennial Campus, free pizza and various student organiza- will be available on the breezeway tions on campus to provide free, between Engineering Building I non-stressful events for students and Engineering Building II from during exam weeks, according to 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., as long as supplies last. Associate DirecThe Jingle Bell tor of Campus Jog, also sponActivities Rick sored by Campus Gardner. Rec, will be on Campus Rec Friday with regwill host Exam istration startJa m i n C a ring at 11 a.m. michael Gy m at Ca r michael Tuesday from Gy m. Accord5 to 7 p.m. The Laura Karpf, assistant director ing to Karpf, the of Campus Recreation on how event includes Exam Jam can benefit students jog is a fun run free food from and walk for two Domino’s, Jimmiles that faculty, my John’s, and Jasmine Mediterranean Bistro, students and staff are all invited to chair massages, Xbox and Corn- participate in. Students can sign hole competitions, and a disc up online or register at the event. “We give away prizes for the best jockey. There will be free giveaways and students can play bad- Christmas costumes,” Karpf said. minton or climb the Rock Wall. “Some people race just for fun Representatives from Student while others compete competiGovernment will help students tively. It’s a good way for students sign up for Campout and reserve to see faculty and staff outside of a teaching setting and form a sense equipment. Laura Karpf, assistant director of camaraderie with their teamof Campus Recreation, said Exam mates.” Campus Cinema will show two Jam will give students a chance to take a break from studying and in- free movies as a part of Stressbusters. Students can go back to teract with friends. “Getting physical exercise or 1985 with “The Goonies,” which just focusing on something other than studying is important for BUSTERS continued page 3
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“When students go back to studying they will be more focused.”
NC State Bookstores
In the midst of the holiday season, some businesses are beginning to sport festive decorations while others have had their decor up since before Halloween and more put up lights and displays just after Thanksgiving. The time between holidays often leaves consumers wondering how businesses decide when to decorate. While places such as Crabtree Valley Mall have had their decorations up since before Halloween, businesses like Sammy’s Tap and Grill on Avent Ferry held out a little bit longer. At first glance Sammy’s looks a bit like Santa’s workshop. Holiday lights and signs stretch from one end of the building to another bearing phrases such as “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays.” According to manager Thomas Ross, the decorations have been up since the week before Thanksgiving and the restaurant plans to keep them up until a few days after New Year’s. Ross said having the lights up before Thanksgiving helped customers know they were open on Thanksgiving day. Sammy’s will be open Christmas day as well. According to Ross, the decorations at Sammy’s are not yet complete. “It makes the atmosphere a little more cheery and jolly,” Ross said. “I don’t think we are done decorating yet.” Dewey’s Bakery in Cameron Village is a seasonal store that sells Moravian sugar cookies and cakes. The company is based out of Winston-Salem where there is a year-round store. The holiday decorations have been up since it’s opening in October because the store caters to holiday shoppers. “There are a lot of people that have moved to Raleigh from Winston that stop by for the memories,” Jade Hall, an employee of Dewey’s, said. “People come mostly for holiday shopping.” Although some businesses were quick to jump on the holiday decorations, other businesses, like 42nd Street Oyster Bar in downtown Raleigh, held out until after Thanksgiving. The seafood restaurant located off of Glenwood Avenue,put up decorations such as wreaths and Christmas lights the Sunday after Thanksgiving. According to manager Stephen Koster, the restaurant traditionally waits until the Sunday or Monday after Thanksgiving. “We never do it before Thanksgiving because one holiday needs to be finished before we start another,” Koster said. “We try to keep it conservative. We don’t want to take away from people’s dining experience.” Holiday lights and Christmas tree
DECOR continued page 4
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