Guess what week it is? Guess what Week. It. Is? HUMP WEEK!

Aaron Berkowitz – General Assignment Reporter

The midterms are coming! The midterms are coming!

In arguably the most stressful time of the semester next to finals, college students need outlets to maintain their sanity. In an effort to provide SCSU students with some form of relief on campus, Residence Hall Association (RHA) is holding its annual Hump Week. It begins on Monday, Mar. 3 and runs through Saturday, Mar. 8 and will feature various free activities for all students to enjoy while taking a break from studying.

“Hump Week marks the midway point through the semester,” said Wesley Boucher, junior social work major and programming board chair of RHA. “And we know that at this point the stress is really building up in everybody so this is a fun way to relieve that.”

Melissa Deroche, senior elementary education major and vice president of RHA, said this year’s Hump Week events have been extended to six days instead of five days out of the week in order to give students more chances to enjoy themselves and relax. “In case you have class one day and can’t make an event it’s not a big deal,” said Deroche. “You can just come out and enjoy whatever is planned for the next day.”

According to Deroche, the week is set to begin with giant board games to play with in the quad unless the weather doesn’t permit it; then they will be played in the Farnham Programming Space. The week will also include a local hypnotist named Dan Larosa, a relaxation day with chair massages and yoga, free giveaways where students can get custom shirts, the first annual Mr. RHA pageant, and ends with the annual New York City bus trip.

“We tried to plan this week around fun events that college students would enjoy rather than just having inflatables which some people think are too ‘kid-ish’,” said Boucher. “It’s important for students to come out and enjoy these events because we want them to get involved and love Southern as much as we all do.”

Boucher said the events put on over the course of the week are solely organized by RHA and they are constantly encouraging students to check them out to see if they are interested in joining them. Their meetings are every Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the Farnham Programming Space and welcome all new faces to come peek their head in to see what they’re about.

“We welcome all new members,” said Boucher. “All they really need to do is show up. I’m really excited to reach out to the entire student body so they know we are making an effort to give them something to do on campus. We put a lot of time into this to make sure it’s something that everyone can enjoy.”

Both Boucher and Deroche said they hope students stop by the events each day of the week because although this is an annual tradition at SCSU, they have made some changes this year that they think the campus will love, including one week long surprise.

“I’ve been working with all of the hall councils on Mr. RHA,” said Deroche. “The idea is kind of like my ‘baby.’ Ihis is the first time we are actually putting on a show for our residents. This is something that RHA has never done and we are excited to be working with all nine residence halls.”

Deroche said she is excited to see how students like the new additions to Hump Week and also welcomes any suggestions that anyone has to continue to improve the experience. “Our goal is to give students some fun ways to relax and help them get past the ‘hump’ in the semester,” said Deroche.