The rundown on Finals Survival Week events happening on campus

There is no better time to take a break from studying for finals than during Finals Survival Week.

Study breaks, massages, free food, Student Recreation Center events and THINK TANK are some of the many resources available to students from Wednesday, Dec. 7 to Thursday, Dec. 15. For students not interested in rummaging through the complete list of events online, worry not—we’ve compiled the best events below.

FSW kick-off

The kick-off begins strong on the UA Mall with a menagerie of materials to help students prepare for finals, but also to keep students engaged on campus.

According to the website, its kick-off will include “campus resources, enjoy[able] activities, snacks, and giveaways … along with interacting with cultural and religious groups on campus.”

Cats After Dark will show the movie “Elf” and provide students with crafts, hot chocolate and a video game tournament.

After the actual kick-off is over at 8 p.m., there is still an hour left of Winterfest, which is all the holiday cheer a student could need before hitting the books, with ice skating, snow and horse carriages rides that only require a food or monetary donation, according to the website.

With that much adventure packed into one night, there’s no reason for students not to put their nose to the grindstone in the ensuing days.

The kick-off will happen from Dec. 7-8 from 6-8 p.m. along the Mall, Winterfest from 6-9 p.m. and Cats After Dark’s movie will run from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.

SUMC

If you’ve walked through the Student Union Memorial Center recently, you’ve probably seen the advertising for free food inside the student union and there’s even been some action there already, with a booth that served free coffee at the student union last week.

Along with continuous free food, the student union is having free movies in Gallagher Theater from Dec. 7-11, according to the website.

The Gallagher Theater has multiple showings of “Magnificent Seven,” which is about “gun men in the Old West [who] gradually come together to help a poor village against savage thieves,” according to IMDb.

The SUMC has yet to release its freebies online, but says that the information is coming soon. You can find the Gallagher Theater’s full list of movies and their showings online.

Some other events happening that are worth checking out include Zen Day on Dead Day, with Campus Recreation, free late night pancake breakfast at Cactus Grill and free, two-hour room bookings at the student union from Dec. 8 to Dec. 15 between 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. during its regular hours.

Finals study breaks

Some students don’t always want to step away from their homework for an extensive amount of time, which is why study breaks are the perfect way to have a short, well-deserved respite from studying.

The first study break will happen Thursday, Dec. 8, on the second floor of the Main Library and includes donuts, therapy dogs, board/video games, coloring and Academic Skills Tutors. According to the FSW list, this event lasts three hours from 6-9 p.m. and happens again on Dec. 9 and 10, this time ending 8 p.m.

The UA’s Fine Arts Library will have its study break on Friday, Dec. 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. According to FSW, there will be coffee, donuts, Academic Skills Tutors and therapy dogs.

Similarly, the Science-Engineering library will have therapy dogs, a beverage table and a “roving snack cart” on Sunday, Dec. 11 from 7-9 p.m.

THINK TANK

Finals time is an understandably busy time for THINK TANK. From its Writing Paloozas to workshops, THINK TANK has students covered during finals.

Academic Skills Workshops provide “a different way to take notes, prepare for exams, manage your time, or even organize your assignments,” according to its website.

Academic Skills Tutors like Alexis Wright, a journalism senior, teach at places around campus to students about exam preparation and what strategies to use when beginning to study for them.

The next big workshop will happen Dec. 7 from 5-6 p.m. in Bear Down Gymnasium.

THINK TANK is having two Writing Paloozas on Sunday, Dec. 4, and Thursday, Dec. 8, with times and locations that can be found on FSW’s website.

The last and arguably most vital of the FSW events are the free massages happening at the UA Bookstore on Monday, Dec. 12, and Wednesday, Dec. 14, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

To stay updated on FSW, text “@uafinals” to 81010 for useful information on events.

Follow Elizabeth Quinlan on Twitter.