By Selena Stevens

"This event will provide students with a free hot breakfast while they interact with some of their professors and university administrators. With renewed energy, they can return to studying for their exams."

-- Becky Jordan,
associate dean of students

Nov. 29, 2001 (Lexington, Ky.) --(Lexington, Ky.) -- On Monday, Dec. 10, the University of Kentucky will initiate a new UK tradition: a free brunch offered to students as a break from the stress of final exams.

The Finals Midnight Crunch Brunch will be held on the first day of finals week from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. in Memorial Coliseum. Hot and cold breakfast foods and beverages will be served to students by celebrity faculty and administrators.

"We wanted to give students a stress-free break from finals studying," said Becky Jordan, associate dean of students and co-chairperson of the event's university-wide planning committee. "This event will provide students with a free hot breakfast while they interact with some of their professors and university administrators. With renewed energy, they can return to studying for their exams."

Among the activities planned for the evening is pool with UK President Lee T. Todd Jr. UK First Lady Patsy Todd will serve popcorn to students, while Dean of Students Victor Hazard will challenge willing participants to some lighthearted hoops.

"We also want to take advantage of the opportunity to provide students with stress relief and study-skills information," said Randy Gonzalez, assistant to the associate provost for student affairs and committee co-chairperson.

Free t-shirts will be provided to the first 500 students through the coliseum doors, and goodie bags sponsored by a variety of campus and community donors will be given to students as they leave.

"This event is an example of how the UK community can come together to support our students in visible and useful ways," Gonzalez said.

While Student Affairs created the event and is the main sponsor, other departments are involved, including Auxiliary Services, Athletics, the UK Alumni Association, The Graduate School, the College of Arts and Sciences, Minority Affairs, the UK Chandler Medical Center and student organizations such as Student Government, Student Activities Board and Panhellenic.