As students bring sleeping bags and 5-hour energy drinks into the now 24-hour library, the reality of finals week is beginning to set in. On Thursday, May 3, the University Program Board (UPB) held Bump Away Finals Stress: Indoor Bumper Cars, which encouraged students to take a break from their studies and relax.

Students gathered in a single file line, hoping to enjoy a stress-free night in the Brown Ballroom. As the anxious drivers waited to take a spin in the colorful, spacious bumper cars, UPB members encouraged them to rest their feet and make multi-colored, creative bracelets.

After receiving wristbands, the students lingered, waiting for their opportunity to crash into the rears of their peer’s car. The nicely-built cars are surrounded by an inflatable setup, creating a ring that hinders careless drivers from crashing into innocent spectators. Only one person is allowed in the car and all participants are required to sign a waiver.

Gradually, faces that once illustrated restlessness soon showed contentment. The at ease drivers continued to yell innocent threats to one another and jerked their cars back and forth as they attempted to rearend their opponents.

Kelly Mitchell, sophomore English education major and UPB outgoing spirit chair, explained where the idea of the stress-free night developed.

“We go to this conference called NACA as a board for the University Program Board … I got this idea because of one of the booths. There’s a bunch of agents there in booths that [want to offer] stuff to bring to your college for different programs and that’s what we do on the board. There was just a bumper car sitting there and I walked up and asked about it. I presented it at our program proposal retreat and it got passed. So this is our last event for the year,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell mentioned that “a semester’s worth of work” and her supportive committee helped to develop the event. She added that she remembered getting quotes for the event last November and now her only concern is making sure people alleviate stress by listening to music and enjoying themselves.

“There is a dual purpose to this event. This event is actually coming from a committee on UPB called the Redbird Spirit Committee. So, we do events that promote school spirit and tradition … but it also has the purpose of relieving some tension during finals,” Mitchell said.

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“Also we have [materials] to make bracelets, you can put a bead on to represent a friend at ISU and then put another bead on to represent something else. This is something to do while they’re waiting or after they finish [bumper cars], just to take a quick break and then go back to studying,” she added.

The UPB event influenced both studying students and Bone Student Center retail employees to take a break.

Jazmin Summerise, sophomore therapeutic recreation major, stated that she came to the Brown Ballroom in hopes to get away and spend time with her friends.

“I also needed something to keep me sane from finals and hitting people will help,” Summerise said.

Ryan Fernandez, freshman mass media communications major, was recently appointed to the UPB spirit chair and looks forward to making ISU students feel less stressed. He explained that the purpose of this event is to create a comfortable atmosphere where people can place the thought of finals in the back of their minds.

“For this event I am looking forward to seeing a bunch of people show up and have fun and actually relieve all the stress that they have during finals,” Fernandez explained.

“I know a lot of people have started studying now and are like freaking out, so I think it would be a great source of gratification for me just to know that people are having fun,” he added.

The 2011–2012 UPB board previously had their “passing of the gavel ceremony” and looks forward to seeing the creative programs that are formed for students next year. Mitchell believes that UPB will continue their tradition of effectively offering fun events to ISU students and encourages more people to come out and take advantage of the free events.