For students putting off their final research papers or capstone projects, there will soon be an opportunity to take that first step toward procrastination domination. The Dugan Library and the Academic Resource Center will be hosting the first ever Long Night Against Procrastination from 6 to 10 p.m. on Nov. 18 in the Dugan Library. The event will give students access to resources and professors who can help them start the paper-writing process, and if students need some study relief, the Campus Activity Board will be playing “Minute to Win It” games from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. as part of the event.
“If you haven’t started anything, good. This is the place to go start stuff,” said Bo Bonner, director of the Academic Resource Center. “If you all you have is your paper prompt and a few ideas, that’s all you need.”
Bonner, a self-professed procrastinator, said the point of the event is to help students take the first bite out of their research papers or projects by making various resources, tutors and professors available to them all in one place, as well as some fun games and snacks.
“Just do one thing and eat some Cheetos,” Bonner said.
Bonner said he believes the self-defeating habit of procrastination is easy to fall into because it’s difficult for students to start something they don’t believe they can finish or that they will have to put on hold. Bonner said he often felt this way as a philosophy undergraduate, but that he has learned ways to break this habit.
“I want to have it all figured out in my head and then write this pristine jewel of rhetoric, but we actually need to be OK with making ‘worthless draft one’ and then keep proceeding,” he said.
Bonner said librarians Steve Hamersky and Jeanette Parker will be available to help students find and cite sources for papers. He and Susan Crane-Laracuente, associate professor of English, will be helping students with the actual process of writing their papers. Other professors who will be available include: Nancy Lugo-Baez (Nursing), Amelia Havenridge (Nursing), Gloria Hegge (Social Work), Fr. Fogliasso (Theology), Matthew Umbarger (Theology), as well as multiple student tutors.
“Our hope is that we have something for everyone no matter what stage of research you are in, just getting started or ready to finish things up,” Parker said.
