UI students preparing for exams this week can find some relief in the grueling effort to stay awake all night to snag that final A.
The UI is providing its traditional study essentials on campus such as free coffee, snacks, and massages. But there are also some new offerings to ease the hectic last few days of the semester, including a late-night game room and additional study space throughout the IMU. Check out a complete list of the events offered.
The IMU and Main Library will remain open 24 hours a day during the week, with both closing at 10 p.m. on Friday.
Many said they are glad to have the extended hours, free snacks, and study breaks back in the IMU; the flood closed the building last year and made it impossible to hold the activities.
Despite flood damage across campus, the Main Library aided students with extended hours and free caffeine last year, said IMU marketing director Nancy Abram. But students saw a noticeable seating shortage after the library started housing music and art collections following the flood, taking approximately 500 chairs from the building.
But the partially renovated IMU is ready to take on the study-space shortage this year.
After hearing numerous complaints about the lack of Main Library seating, officials decided to extend space in the IMU. The second-floor ballroom will remain open during the week and be stocked with extra chairs and tables. In addition, any room located in the IMU not booked for a meeting will remain unlocked.
UI Student Government President Michael Currie said the UISG is partially funding the all-night study hours.
“The IMU is doing a lot to accommodate the students this year,” he said. “Especially for the lack of library study space.”
UI junior Sahaj Patel said he appreciated the extra space the IMU offered this year.
“The library is always super crowded,” he said. “It’s hard to find a seat.”
Also new to the finals agenda is a game room stocked with a Wii gaming system, as well as board and card games. Officials said they are implementing a two-hour limit in the game room to ensure students don’t get distracted for too long, Abram said. Games can be checked out in the IMU River Room 1 all night with a student ID.
UI sophomore Grace Dalasi said she thought the game room was a hit. She went on Dec. 11 and said the room was crowded. A large group of students were playing bingo, and many gathered around a big screen where students took turns playing the Wii.
“We found our new favorite study spot,” she said.
And continuing a two-year trend, the Campus Activities Board is again sponsoring free massage chairs from 9 p.m. to midnight on Monday and Tuesday.
Chris Elsenbast, the group’s public-relations director, said he believes the massage chairs and late-night food options are always the most popular events.
“Generally, we have people lined up at 9 p.m. waiting for massages,” he said. “So we’re expecting lots of students this time around.”
The 24-hour lineup started in 2007. With the floods in 2008, this fall is only the third semester the IMU extra hours have been in place. Abram said turnout for this year’s events will help predict how viable the 24-hour initiative is.
“We certainly hope that if this is something students need they will take advantage of it,” she said. “We will see if they come.”