On Friday, the University Activities Board and MSU Counseling Center are putting on Study Central Version 4.0 at the Union.

The Union will be used as an alternative study space to combat the crowds at the library, but, unlike the library, will be closing at 2 a.m. In addition to the individual and group study rooms, there will be many opportunities for breaks as well.

“We realize that finals (are) a stressful time and we want to encourage students to take breaks,” program facilitator and Counseling Center psychologist Talitha Easterly said.

“You have your study schedule and stick to that, but also incorporate breaks so you’re not too overwhelmed.”

The Counseling Center will offer a station with stress management tips from staff, stress balls and a biofeedback machine that can show individuals their biological stress levels through a computer program.

“A lot of times we think of stress as a negative thing, but we do need some bit of stress to motivate us,” Easterly said. “We do need some level of stress to motivate us to actually get the work done and then to put in the effort.”

There also will be a table with puzzles as well as arts and craft.

“We also want to emphasize that studying can be fun, so (we’re) implementing some fun and the positive aspect also.” Easterly said.

Each residence hall will have events taking place as well, said Amy Franklin-Craft, associate director of the Department of Residence Life.

“You’re not going to find necessarily uniformity between the residence halls,” Franklin-Craft said. “(But) a number of residence halls will do things like stress reliever breaks where they’ll either employ an outside masseuse or they’ll have a whole bunch of stress balls or Play-Doh or finger paints things like that in the lounge.”

Overall, Franklin-Craft said that residence halls won’t have any huge events going on because the focus still is on studying.

“In general, what we tell directors is that they need to keep things low key and not utilizing a lot of academic or study time — things that are not going to be mentally taxing for anybody … but a way for students to get away from the stress of studying should they choose,” Franklin-Craft said.

One such dorm offering events for students is Akers Hall. In addition to making their west and east lounges into a complete study area, Akers will offer a chance for students to take a break and relax with an oasis theme.

“We’re going to have like an oasis night where you come down and relax,” Akers Hall Complex Director Samantha Alexander said. “They can do an arts and crafts station, we have a pool table, air hockey — you know, come down and take an hour break and just relax in oasis kind of thing.”

Alexander said these events will be taking place starting Sunday and ending Thursday.