2022 LSU Gumbo - Book - Page 95
Paws for Finals, an event for students to detox
and relieve stress before finals, was held in the Union
Ballroom on Nov. 17. This included many activities
to take students’ minds off final exams. Some of
the many activities the event had to offer included
origami making, rock decorating, coloring pages and
making thank you cards for people who have made a
positive impact in one’s life. Organizations at the event
included LSU Olinde Career Center and LSU Center
for Academic Success.
Rachel Hoover, the wellness coordinator at the
Student Health Center, is the main coordinator of the
event. This format for a de-stress event is new to LSU’s
campus, and it is Hoover’s first year working with this
organization.
“We just wanted to provide students with a place to
de-stress before finals,” Hoover said. “We know it’s a
really rough time and we want to be able to help with
that.”
Hoover also noted that this event also adds an
opportunity for students to take a break and relax.
Finals week can be one of the most stressful times of
the year and the Student Health Center was glad to
host this event for those in need of a pick me up.
One section of the event was hosted by LSU Tiger
Human Animal Therapy Services, also known as Tiger
HATS. It is a community service partnered with the
LSU Vet School that promotes mental health through
service animals. Students at the event gathered around
to pet dogs named Greta, Rolex, Decker and Jo.
Diane Sylvester, the current director of the program,
has been working with Tiger HATS for over 15 years
and has seen the impact it makes first hand. She
said the program is a big de-stressor and provides
pet therapy for different organizations, facilities and
hospitalities.
“It gives you a thrill to see you can share something
you love with people in need,” Sylvester said. “It gives
people a little relief to whatever is going on in their
life.”
Another table was hosted by LSU Center for
Academic Success. Here, there was a spin wheel with
many rewards including highlighters, notepads, pens
and a final exam planner to help students lay the next
few weeks out.
Sophomore Emmi Lasseigne said the event had several
things to do that led to a calm start for her finals week.
She said though she was there for a short time, she
received gifts and packets she could use before she
took one of her big tests.
“I felt like I was a part of a community and I felt like
LSU did a great job of including me and caring about
me as a student,” Lasseigne said. “I would definitely go
again if they had another one of these events.”
Photos by Georgia Jones
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