Free pizza and movies are two tools campus organizations will use to bust your stress next week.
As a part of Campus Activities’ stress busters, pizza will be distributed on the Brickyard Dec. 8 and on Centennial Campus Dec. 9. Campus Cinema will also show ‘Knight and Day’ free to students Dec. 9 and Dec. 10.
Rick Gardner, associate director of Campus Activities, said stress busters have evolved since the University sponsored its first stress buster, ‘Breakfast on the Go,’ 10 years ago.
“Every semester we do something a little bit different,” Gardner said.
One returning event is Pet-a-Pooch, which allows students the opportunity to see, touch and distress during the exam period by being around therapy dogs.
According to Gardner, this is one of the most popular events Campus Activities sponsors.
“It’s really interesting to see how Pet-a-Pooch has exploded [as interest has increased],” Gardner said.
Pet-a-Pooch will be in the North Gallery of Talley from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 8. According to Gardner, all of the dogs are trained, healthy and safe to be around.
“We work with a group called COPE Elder Care. They are therapy dogs that they normally take into retirement homes,” Gardner said.
Peter Koutroumpis, assistant director of Campus Recreation, said Campus Recreation is sponsoring several events this year, including one new event.
“We have a dodge ball tournament we are introducing this year,” Koutroumpis said.
The dodge ball tournament will be Monday and requires advance registration.
The only other stress buster that requires registration is the Jingle Bell Jog. Gardner said this is a fun, noncompetitive two mile run/walk.
“We have prizes for costumes,” Gardner said. “Registration is online and also [you can] walk up.”
Koutroumpis said they have seen creative costumes in the past, including Santa and a team of reindeer.
“We’ve had a Santa and some elves [also],” Koutroumpis said.
The first stress buster of this semester will be a carnival in Wolf Plaza from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday afternoon.
“Anybody can come up and play the games. And McDonald’s is bringing out a prize wheel,” Gardner said.
According to Gardner, there is a philanthropic aspect to the carnival. Campus Activities is trying to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House. If you donate to Ronald McDonald House, Gardner said, you can spin the prize wheel.
“The bookstore has given us 50 $10 gift cards to give away at the carnival,” Gardner said.
Another stress buster will be the biannual Exam Jam sponsored by CampusRec, according to Koutroumpis.
“We have Exam Jam, which we always hold the first Tuesday of exam week,” Koutroumpis said. “It involves all our different program areas doing some sort of fun and active activity.”
The rock wall will be open and free food will be provided.
According to Koutroumpis, Exam Jam is a way for students to relax by being active. Inactive ways of relaxing will also be available.
“We do have a massage therapist, so people can sign up for a free massage,” Koutroumpis said.
UAB is hosting bingo in the Campus Cinema from 9 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. Dec. 9.
University Dining will also be opening Fountain Dining Hall late on Dec. 7, 8 and 9. They will have activities and food.
“[One day] they’ll be doing the spin art with the records that we did at Friday Fest,” Gardner said.
