As finals week draws near, and students begin to prepare for their exams, various organizations around campus are busy organizing events designed to relieve some of the inevitable stress.

From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m on Saturday, Dec. 10, the Tulane Alumni Association is hosting a study break at the Alumni House, located at 6319 Willow St.

Christian students may be interested in an Advent mini-retreat, hosted by the Tulane Catholic Center. The retreat lasts from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10, and will involve food, friends, prayer and relaxation, along with talks from various speakers. Students must preregister online and are encouraged to pay a $5 donation fee covering lunch.

On Monday, Dec. 12, theWELL is hosting a study break from noon to 4 p.m. in Suite 115 of the Reily Student Recreation Center. Students will receive free food, free chair messages and helpful stress management tips to excel in academics while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

theWELL is also hosting a mindful yoga study break from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Monday in the Diboll Yoga Studio of the Reily Center.

Later that night, from 10:30 p.m. to midnight in Bruff Commons Dining Room, Tulane Dining Services is hosting Cram Jam, a Tulane tradition that involves food, music, prizes, photo booths and much more. The event is free of charge and open to all Tulane students.

On Wednesday, Dec. 13, Tulane University Outdoor Adventures is hosting the Gotta Study S’more event from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Bruff Commons Quadrangle. Students will have the opportunity to relax and have some fun roasting marshmallows over fire pits and eating s’mores before returning to their studies.

On the following day, Thursday, Dec. 14, the Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life is hosting another study break from noon to 4 p.m. in the Pedersen Lobby.

One new de-stress event, hosted by the the Undergraduate Student Government, features a communal cathartic scream.

The event, aptly named the YELLBC, will be held on Sunday, Dec. 11, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Qatar Ballroom of the LBC. The event is free and requires no preregistration.

Various support services and student organizations, including theWELL, Counseling and Psychological Services, the National Alliance for Mental Illness On Campus and the Tulane University Neuroscience Association, will provide students with information on their services, as well as helpful well-being and study tips. A massage therapist, courtesy of theWELL, and free food will also be provided.

The highlight of the evening, however, will occur at 7:15 p.m., when participants will gather on the balcony of the Qatar Ballroom and release one resounding, communal scream.

“Cathartic screams have been proven to do almost nothing for your mental health,” Director of Student Health and Wellness Corley Miller said. “They’re actually not very cathartic. But every time we say that, we laugh, and laughter is one of the most cathartic things that is available to the human psyche.”

The event will also provide students with a fun social diversion from their studies and a chance to learn about potentially helpful support services on campus.

Sam Levin, executive vice president of the Undergraduate Student Government and originator of the idea for YELLBC, said he wants to showcase to students Tulane’s on campus support systems.

“I want to make sure that students understand all the ways that Tulane can help out during their exams,” Levin said.

This is the first year the USG is hosting the event. Levin and Miller, along with the rest of USG, have worked with many organizations to make the event a success. They hope the event will become a legacy for years to come and will one day become as embedded in Tulane’s culture as Cram Jam and other de-stress events on campus.