University Star

The stress of finals has some students hitting the books and others hitting the bars.

John Hinson, management senior, considers himself a mentor to younger students.

“I am entering my seventh year of college with no end in sight. Basically, I am the real life Van Wilder,” Hinson said. “My delayed graduation is most likely because of procrastination and hangovers from the night before, which ultimately leads to a massive amount of cramming two hours before a test, with at least an hour of Facebooking.”

Hinson offered words of wisdom to help other students survive the stress of finals.

“Finals are a crucial moment in one’s academic career,” Hinson said. “If you want to pass your finals, I would avoid my house, hanging out with any rugby players and computer labs, because they should really be called ‘Facebook labs.’”

Local bars and businesses are not providing much resistance to students’ temptation to party. Weekly drink specials are luring students from the library and coaxing them into the bars for a break from their studies.

Sean Patrick’s is having happy hour everyday from four to eight, with $1 off everything house, $1.50 Ziegenbach pints, $3.75 Guinness, $1 frozen margaritas and 25 cent wings.

The Green Parrot is offering $2 drinks on Tuesdays, $2 wells on Wednesday and $3.50 Bay Breezes, Sea Breezes and Cape Cods on Thursdays.

Pluckers has daily specials to keep students interested. They offer Sunday Shot Night with $2 specialty shots; karaoke on Mondays with all you can eat wings and 34 oz. drinks for $5; Texas Tuesday with 16 oz. of Ziegenbach, Lonestar and Titos for $2; Wednesday is trivia night with $1.50 off mugs of beer; and Tijuana Thursday has all-you-can-eat boneless wings, $2 margaritas and Tecate, $2.50 Coronas and Pacific

Coast, and $4 Mexican martinis.

Hinson said he is no stranger to the bar scene.

“The Taproom has a world traveler card. If you drink 60 different beers, you get your name on a plaque, along with your favorite quote and a T-shirt,” Hinson said. “I would have about five plaques by now, but I keep losing my cards.”

Russell White, exercise and sports science senior, takes full advantage of happy hour specials, calling himself “the happy hour hero.”

“Students party harder over finals than the rest of the year because it’s a good stress reliever,” White said. “The semester is coming to a close and the weather is beautiful. We are just young individuals looking for a good time.”

Carolyn Palmer, pre-psychology sophomore, agrees partying is a big part of finals, but students do not completely disregard their grades.

“Students go crazy because they have a lot more time on their hands,” Palmer said. “I think students study just as hard as they party, leaving them exhausted at the end of the week. I plan to split my time equally between the river and the library.”

Brink Amey, criminal justice junior, believes everyone deals with the stress of finals differently.

“During stressful times, people are looking for an outlet, but everyone’s outlet is different,” Amey said. “The people I hang out with balance their studies with partying. Although, I could see how a student would study and party excessively.”

Hinson urges students to enjoy their college experience.

“Enjoy it while it lasts and make it last as long as you can afford,” Hinson said. “You will remember the moments spent with your friends more than the moments spent studying.”