Puppy therapy offered during finals at USM

The library is open at 2 a.m. with students trying to memorize every note they have taken that semester. Sales of coffee and energy drinks have spiked since Thanksgiving break. Everyone suddenly becomes a math expert in trying to calculate the minimum grade required in each class to still pass.

It's finals week at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Students can be overwhelmed with stress during finals week, trying to study a semester's worth of material for the most weighted grade in the class. To combat finals stress, the Southern Miss Honors College has partnered with Southern Pines Animal Shelter to bring stress relief to students in one of the most adorable and cuddly forms possible: puppy therapy.

Even though the event is held at Honor House, it is open to any student who may need a little pick-me-up. About 25 students took advantage of the opportunity Monday.

"A lot of students are from out of town who don't get to see their pet at home or live in campus housing, which doesn't allow pets, so this is a great way for them to get some animal time and relieve some stress during finals week," said Brittany Curtzwiler of Southern Pines Animal Shelter. "We've started doing these events monthly with the Honors College, but finals week is usually the biggest event. Not only does it help the students, but it also helps our puppies get socialized and more energetic with the chance to run around and play with others."

One student, Ellyn Dunbar, has done her best to attend every puppy therapy event the Honors College has had so far.

"It's a great way to de-stress," the current senior said. "It's pretty hard to be stressed when you've got a puppy in your lap. I also live on campus so this is a nice way to get the pet experience for a little while since we can't have them in the residence halls."

One of the first puppy therapy events was held last year at the Honor House and has since expanded to also be held around midterms and other times throughout the semester.

"I try to take advantage of these events as much as possible because they really help with your mental health," sophomore Breanne Dalton said. "It really helps everyone involved with just not letting the semester get the best of you."

Not only does the event act as stress relief, but also offers other benefits to students.

"This is a really stressful time for our staff members, our faculty and especially our students," said Ellen Weinauer, dean of the Honors College. "We started this last year and we not only noticed that the students seemed a lot more cheerful during this event but also there is a lot of community building going on. I overhear lots of conversations about studying and how exams are going. It improves their mental health while also offering academic support."