By Anna Michael
The Cincinnati Enquirer

OXFORD - The library is packed and the bars are empty. Coffee is the vice du jour.

It's exam week at Miami, Xavier and Northern Kentucky universities - when stress levels skyrocket.

One strategy for coping: Denial. "Yesterday I had all day to study and instead I took a three-hour nap, went to dinner with a friend and watched TV," says Miami senior Hallie Primrose of Middleburg Heights, Ohio, who is graduating Friday but has three exams and a paper to go.

"I generally put everything off until it's about 1 in the morning and stay up all night," says the zoology and journalism double major. "I pay for it the next day."

Many universities have turned stress-busting techniques into an art.

Get the kit: For $21, parents and friends of Miami students can order a "stress buster" kit that will be delivered to a residence hall room.

Inside: Granola, fruit bars, fresh fruit, bottled water, juice, Hershey's Miniatures, Blow Pops and a squishy stress toy, says Miami University spokeswoman Holly Wissing.

To order: Call (513) 529-4031.

Snack city: Xavier's Gallagher Student Center, which is open 24 hours a day this week, has free late-night snacks from 10 p.m. to midnight: Burger King meals, a breakfast buffet and nacho bar. And coffee and hot chocolate, of course.

Another study break option at Xavier: Classic Christmas movies are being shown in the campus pub late at night.

Organized de-stressing: Resident assistants at Miami University help de-stress their charges by organizing activities. First-year adviser Lindsay Dobucki supervises eight RAs in Dodds Hall.

"Tonight ... RAs are going to have residents make stress balls out of balloons and flour," Dobucki said. "It gives them a little bit of a study break, and they have some fun along with it."

Some Miami RAs assign "finals buddies" to each of their residents, who act as secret Santas, leaving notes of encouragement or small gifts.

Breathe deep: Today at Northern Kentucky University, a program called "ER - Exam Relief"' offers hot hand waxing, 10-minute massages and free sandwiches. That's from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the second floor of the University Center, and it includes information about breathing and de-stressing techniques.

Drop-in therapists: Miami's student counseling center holds emergency hours during finals.

"But for some students, there's simple therapy, says Pam Salter, assistant director of counseling service: "A call from home - and getting a cheerful message from Mom and Dad."

---

E-mail Michaeae@muohio.edu