The Boston University Student Government launched the inaugural finals care package program on Dec. 2, giving students the opportunity to order care packages for themselves and friends to be distributed during study period and finals week.
Each care package in the “BU Gov. Cares” Care Package Program is free and includes a plastic water bottle filled with candy, pens, post-its and silly putty for fun and stress-free studying.
“One of the fun things we realized is that they [students] enjoy free stuff. Finals can be a stressful time for a lot of students. We want to show that we care for the BU community,” said Marissa Choy, director of the Department of Academic Affairs and a College of Communication sophomore.
Choy said she created the idea for the finals Care Package Program in the summer and placed orders for the water bottles in mid-October. SG used Facebook and Twitter to promote the care packages and posted online form links for students to begin ordering the packages on Dec. 2. Choy said all 500 water bottles sold out within three hours of posting time.
Robbie Brussell, associate director of the Department of Academic Affairs and a junior in the School of Management, said in addition to the candy and silly putty in the water bottle, each package with include a postcard to allow students to comment on SG’s efforts.
“It’s a good stress relief for students. It’s fun, and it helps students stay sustainable with the water bottles,” he said. “We also have a postcard with our campaign Expect More, which allows students to provide feedback about what they want to see change at BU.”
The care packages will be delivered Wednesday and Thursday to students who live on-campus, Brussell said. They will also be available for pick-up at the SG office on Thursday and Friday for students who ordered them for off-campus friends.
Brussell said the first year of the BU Gov. Cares program was a success, and SG hopes to expand the program in the future because of its high demand. The Department of Academic Affairs also has other projects in the works to provide support for students.
“We have a Scholarly Spotlight Series next semester, which builds an avenue between academic resources and students on campus,” he said. “We also have tutoring in the dorms at Warren Towers and West [Campus] so people can get tutoring for their final exams.”
Several students said they appreciated SG’s efforts to keep students de-stressed and relaxed during study break and finals week.
“It’s the holiday season, and it’s nice to do simple acts of kindness for your friends,” said Matt Maguire, a senior in COM. “It shows all of us coming together as a community, we all are in this together, since finals is the most stressful time of year and it’s timely.”
Laura Gray, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, said the care packages allow students to support one another during a stressful time in the semester.
“It’s nice to receive a little present. I would be happy [to receive one], and it’s a great reminder we can get through finals,” she said. “It’s cool they are doing this with the resources they have.”
For CAS sophomore Eli Gallipoli, he said the decision to send or receive a care package is simple.
“Who doesn’t want to get a care package during finals?” he said. “It’s a pick-me-up during finals week.”
