PEERS to help students get stress-free for finals

By Olivia Biagi
Collegian Editor
December 5, 2007

PEER Educators kicked off their semiannual Stressbusters Week Monday night in the St. Basil Court and St. Bernard main lounges. The event, Monday Night Football Mocktailgating Party, started at 8 p.m. and featured the Ravens vs. Patriots game. PEERS provided attendees with pizza, wings, a root beer keg, games, prizes and mocktails.

“The PEER Educators run Stressbusters Week every fall and spring before final exams,” said senior biology major Andy Weingarten. “It consists of events each day of the week either during the free period or at night. We’ve done all these events in the past and they have been well-received.”

“We know that nights can be very busy for students, so during the free period in the Union we try to have short activities and crafts for people to enjoy,” said junior elementary special education major Kelly Lazarowski.

PEER Educators, according to its mission statement, is an organization on campus that is devoted to educating Lasallians on making good decisions and raising awareness in order to live a healthy lifestyle. Other programs that PEERS runs includes Real World La Salle, which is performed opening weekend, and presentations in FYO classes.

“We would encourage people to study hard for finals, but take few minutes here and there and give yourself a break,” said Weingarten.

Members of PEERS have been working the last couple of weeks to prepare for the events happening this week.

“I would say that the students involved in Peer Educators did a lot of event planning that they thought would relieve some pressure for students,” said sophomore social work major Kristin Moss. “[The events are] a nice healthy break from a week of studying.”

“As a group, PEERS decided that Stressbusters Week is something we wanted to plan for the end of the semester,” said Lazarowski. “Then we have a few volunteer members to head up the event. These people go to funding board or RSA, since PEERS doesn’t have their own budget. These members present to the group the different events they have come up with. Then other members sign up to buy supplies, reserve rooms, advertise and staff the events.”

According to Weingarten, the events are “fun, free and a great stress relief!”

Tuesday, PEERS set up shop in the Union during the free period making holiday ornaments and picture frames with students.

Stressbusters week continues today during free period with free five–minute chair massages in the Union lobby. Students will also have the opportunity to take pictures with Santa.

“A pretty long line forms for the chair massages,” Lazarowski said.

Thursday is the Grey’s Anatomy Party in the St. Bernard lounge at 9 p.m., which will include pizza and snacks. On Friday, frazzled students can stop by the Union lobby again during free period to make stress balls. Finally, Stressbusters Week will culminate Saturday night with Open Mic Night. at 9:15 p.m. in Backstage. The event is co-sponsored by Peer Educators, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. and Late Night La Salle.

biagi01@lasalle.edu