final paper

WSU students seek help for stress on a daily basis at the campus counseling center but that number seems to increase during dead week and finals, said Scott Case, WSU Counseling psychologist and coordinator of the Stress Management Program.

On average the WSU counseling services see about 5 to 10 students a day for stress, Case said. He said during dead week and finals, stress tends to be a main focus of counseling visits. Case said stress is caused by problems an individual is facing and the pressure to perform well academically isn’t any different.

Annie Althauser, an elementary education major, said she thinks students’ stress levels are higher during finals because the grade they earn on that last test can make or break their grade in the class.

There are many ways stress can manifest; it can affect our thoughts, bodies, and behaviors, Case said. People are as unique as finger prints or snowflakes causing everyone to be affected by stress a little differently, he said. Case said stress can cause an individual to experience trouble concentrating and trouble sleeping. He said stress can also affect ones emotional stability which can cause nervousness and irritability.

Students will often have trouble accessing memorized information and the ability to retain new information, he said. Case said this is caused by the hormones adrenalin and cortisol which are released into the body affecting the parts of the brain that control learning and focus. He said these hormones will also affect the limbic system which affects mood and the prefrontal cortex which affects judgment.

Stress can also affect an individual physically, Case said. Stress can cause an individual to experience muscle tension, headaches, and become more susceptible to illness, he said. Case said these all can affect a student’s ability to perform academically.

There are ways to help prevent and treat stress, Case said. He suggests eating healthy, working out, and getting enough sleep. He also suggests taking frequent breaks while studying and engaging in activities that the individual finds relaxing. Case said doing deep breathing exercises can also help because it lowers cortisol levels. He also suggests visiting www.counsel.wsu.edu for stress management techniques or participating in the WSU Counseling Services Stress Management Program.

Althauser said she works out to relieve stress because it allows her to get away from the books and release built up tension.

Economics professor Patricia Kuzyk said in order to deal with stress it is important to have friends to talk to.

“A feeling of isolation can make everything worse,” she said.

While following these steps will help with stress it does not replace good study habits throughout the semester, Case said. He said maintaining good study habits will help lessen the work load when it is time for finals.

Kuzyk agrees that good study habits can make finals much less stressful. If a student leaves a large amount of work till the end the work load could be impossible to accomplish, she said.

“At that point it is important to realize it isn’t possible and pick out what is most important and at least accomplish that,” Kuzyk said.

Althauser said good study habits she uses to prevent stress are planning ahead and making lists of what needs to be done and prioritize them.

“Crossing stuff off my lists gives me a sense of accomplishment,” she said.

Other habits Althauser said she has found affective are studying with others and studying in a quite place free of distractions. She also said to spread out study sessions and avoid cramming.

Kuzyk suggests taking an active approach to studying.

“Just reading is worthless,” she said.

Students need to be thinking about what kinds of questions they’ll be asked and be able to explain why the answer is correct, Kuzyk said.

If stress persists it can roll over into burn out which is when an individual feels as though any attempt to fix the problem is useless, Case said. Case explained when an individual is experiencing burn out they feel hopeless. Too much stress can be incapacitating, he said.

While it is clear that stress can have a negative affect on an individual it can also have a positive impact, Case said. Stress is a natural arousal response which helps us to function in a crisis or emergency, he said. A healthy amount of stress can help motivate an individual, he said.

Althauser admits that a small amount of stress helps her not to procrastinate.

Contacts:
Name: Counselor Scott Case (Interviewed in person)
Phone: 335-4511

Name: Instructor Patricia Kuzyk (Interviewed in person)
Email: pkuzyk@wsu.edu

Name: student Annie Althauser (Interviewed in person)
Phone: (425) 443-0418
Email: anniealthauser@yahoo.com

Outline:
Students seen for stress at the wsu counseling services
- Seen everyday for stress
- numbers tend to increase during the dead week and finals
- stress is induced by other issues students face
- Why finals cause stress

Repercussions of stress
Counselor
-affects on body
-affects on mood/ behavior
- how these affects have on academics

Prevent stress
Counselor’s advice
-eat healthy
- exercise
- take brakes
- hobbies
Instructors advice
-study along the way
- have a support system

What can we do to treat stress
Counselor
- Same steps to prevent
- Come talk to a counselor
Instructor
-talk to a friend
Student
-workout

Importance of study habits
Counselor
-doesn’t replace good study habits
Instructor
-study along the way
- Realize what you can and cannot get done in the time you are given
Student
- make lists and prioritize

When you experience too much stress
counselor
-tend to give up feel hopeless

Healthy stress
- positive affect on academics and personal drive

Ledes

With the current economic crisis facing Washington, higher education continues to be at risk, said District 9 Sen. Mark Schoelser.

President Floyd expressed his disagreement with Christine Gregoire’s plan to cut higher education by $99 million.

Zoology club discussed the probable causes of extinction of about 180 amphibian species and the 43 percent drop in amphibian populations.

Speech Story

Tough times drew people to Coffee and Politics Tuesday night to hear Washington government leaders speak about the budget deficit we face and its possible solutions.

“We are in for some tough sledding,” Sen. Mark Schoesler said as he spoke to a room full of students and Pullman locals in the Honors College Lounge.

Washington state had increased its spending almost 34 percent and now the state is faced with a $9 billion deficit, said Schoesler. He said the state is at a point were there is a cost for inaction. He said the problem has been pushed to the side and now the longer we wait to address the problem the more expensive it will be.

Schoesler is the senate republican floor leader and is a self-employed farmer. He has been in office for 17 years. The senator was accompanied by Legislative District 9 reps. Joe Schmick and recently elected Susan Fagan. First term representative and Colfax business owner, Joe Schmick agreed with Schoesler that this is no new problem.

“We had the warning signs.” Schmick said, “Unfortunately we didn’t act.”

All speakers agreed that in order to address the deficit the state will have to watch spending, make budget cuts and stimulate the economy.

Many audience members in attendance voiced their concern of how the deficit will continue to affect higher education.

“Until the economy turns around higher education is always at risk,” Schoesler said.
Schmick explained that Washington state higher education costs are not as high as they seem. He said Washington state has one of the lowest rates of student debt in the country.

Audience member Maggie McKee was concerned with their comments. McKee, a WSU accounting major, said she doesn’t think higher education is being as valued as it should be. McKee said she doesn’t understand how the state can expect to have people for jobs when students can’t even afford the education they need. She believed the speakers didn’t focus on this concern as much as the audience would have liked. This is the topic that is really impacting students, she said.

The speakers emphasized the importance of a healthy economic climate. Schmick said the state has a lot of students who are earning great degrees but many of our businesses are leaving. He gave the example of Boeing and three local businesses that have left the state. Schmick emphasized the importance of these businesses on creating an effective economic climate. He said jobs allow people to spend money and the money people spend allows businesses to provide jobs. By losing these businesses we are losing tax payers, he said.

Audience members mirrored the senator’s and representatives’ concern with the business climate.

“We are losing businesses right through our fingers,” Nicholas Marshall, a WSU business administration major, said.

Marshall said he plans on becoming an entrepreneur but is afraid to enter the current business climate especially with the 7.6 percent increase of the labor industry worker’s compensation. He said this discourages people from starting their businesses in Washington. Fagan admits that it is a tough time to be a business owner and suggested making it cheaper for business owners to get health insurance to provide to their employees.

The speakers gave the audience a glimpse as to some of the possible solutions to the deficit. Schoesler said they are looking at all of the government funded programs to see what can and cannot be cut. Schmick agreed.

“I don‘t think you will see many stones unturned at the end of this year,” Schmick said.

Schmick thinks financial assistance programs need to be reevaluated. He said we need to reevaluate the standard of these programs to make sure only people who need the services are getting it. An example he gives of this is the General Assistance Unemployment program or the GAU. He explains that with the current state of the program it is harder for a single mother to get support than a capable single man. The speakers also talk about reevaluating the Department of Health and Social Services or DHSS but did not specify the changes that would be made.

The speakers also stated while tax increases are always a possibility they plan on avoiding income tax since they have found that the majority of the population is strongly apposed to the idea.

Questions to ask the speaker:
What was the objective of giving this speech?

Why are you informing students about this issue?

Why would attending this speech be beneficial to students?

What other places could budget cuts have been made other than higher education?

Do you believe the 13 percent cut was a justifiable amount? If not what would be?

Why did the state cut only 6 percent from community colleges and tech schools in comparison to four year colleges losing 13 percent?

What is the state doing to end the budget problem?

How can we avoid repeating this problem?

What are you doing to improve the budget problem?

What can students do to help?

Contact info:
Maggie McKee (Interviewed in person)
Phone: 509-723-3329
Email: Maggie McKee@mae.com

Nicholas Marshall (Interviewed in person)
Phone:435-876-2173

Senator Mark Schoesler
Phone: (360) 786-7620

Representative Joe Schmick
Phone: 360- 786-7844
Email: schmick.joe@leg.ws.gov

Representative Susan Fagan
Phone: 509-979-3083

Other Sources:
On the Issues. Susan Fagan for state representative. Nov. 30.

Rep. Joe Schmick. State Representative Joe Schmick. Nov. 30.


Senator Mark Schoesler Biography. Senate Republican Caucus. Nov. 30.

Outline
Intro. Speakers
- Senate Republican Floor Leader Mark Schoesler 17 years.
- 9th District State Representative Joe Schmick His first term Colfax business owner
- District State Representative Susan Fagan recently elected

Intro to budget crisis
- Cause: Over spending, lack of action
- What we need to do: watch spending, make cuts, stimulate the economy

budget cut and how it is affecting higher education
- Schoesler, high education is always at risk
- Schmick Wash. lowest rates of student debt.
-Susan is concerned about the middle student
- Maggie concerns: Higher education needs to be valued more cover more on the subject. How can we stimulate the economy when cant afford education need.

Affect on businesses
- Schick explains importance of businesses
- Concerns from Nickolas, “we are losing businesses right through our fingers”

Ideas to help the problem
- No rock unturned
-revaluating government support programs
- GAU
- DHSS department of health and social services, didn’t say how it would change
- income tax not supported so they wont implement it