SGA hosts KRAM for the EXAM

On Saturday, the Student Government Association hosted its second annual KRAM for the EXAM: Midterm Edition for students. SGA held the event at the Main Library on UCF's main campus, which extended its hours that evening from 7 p.m. until 1 a.m.

 At 7:30 p.m., the library re-opened its doors and admitted students, presenting them with a small bag of free study supplies, including highlighters, pens, pencils, notecards, mini-notebooks, and other supplies. The bags also had a number printed on the side, which students later found out were for a raffle to win various prizes. The three prizes packages won that night included a half pound of chocolate and assorted study materials.

 Junior Michael Davis, an interpersonal/organizational communications major and director of student affairs for SGA, said that they felt there was a need for a midterm study week.

 "UCF does not have an official midterm week," Davis said. "So we decided to host a study session around the time we believed students would have midterms."

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 During the KRAM for the EXAM event, students not only received free study supplies to help motivate they to study, they were also feed free pizza at 10:30 p.m. to fight hunger during studying and a free movie, "Get Him To The Greek," was played at 11 p.m. for students who needed a break.

Other resources offered for students were free scantrons and blue books as well as free tutoring in the Student Academic Resource Center (SARC) in Howard Phillips Hall 113 until 1 a.m.

Vita Hines, a junior aerospace engineering major and tutor at SARC, said that she has been to Study Union -- SGA's annual finals week study event where the Student Union is open 24 hours -- but this was her first encounter at the KRAM for the EXAM. Hines said she found it to be very helpful.

"I have trouble sitting down and studying," she said.

Coming to the library helped her to stay focused on the task at hand better. Hines also found that the time space between the raffles, the food, and the movie motivated her to stay longer and study as well.

"If they had served the food at the beginning, I would have just left," Hines said.

Senior Mathew Adamira, a civil engineering major, also found the event helpful for him as he studied for his exams on Monday.

"I'd rather cram for [my exam] Saturday and review a little on Sunday to prepare for my exam," Adamira said.

Adamira said that he cannot study at home and coming to an environment such as the one provided Saturday night, helps him focus -- especially as he sees his peers study around him, which motivates him to keep studying himself.

He is often found in Knight Study, the 24/7 study space by the UCF Arena, or the Student Union, which is now open 24/5, and finds these quiet environments helpful to his studies.

Dominic Spence, a senior business management major and the academic affairs coordinator for SGA, anticipated 300-400 students. According to Spence, an estimate of between 200-330 students came throughout the night to utilize the resources offered. Spence is pleased with the turnout and the event overall and plans to continue this success for the future.

"I am definitely planning to hold another Midterm edition of KRAM this spring," Spence said.

Spence also is planning a fall 2011 finals editions of KRAM for the EXAM on Saturday, Dec. 3 with  the  participation of the library. He also hopes to work with SARC again in December as well.

"I am looking forward to hopefully working with SARC again and making their partnership a permanent on for future Krams," Spence said.