In the midst of last-minute assignments, students were able to soothe their stress by holding an assortment of cute, fluffy animals at a petting zoo set up outside the Rossi Student Center during finals week.

The zoo was hosted by Psi Lambda Delta, a club for psychology majors, and offered a variety of animals to interact with, including baby goats, sheep, bunnies, and chickens.

“Therapy animals really help people to calm themselves,” said Psi Lambda Delta sponsor Dr. Paula Whitaker. “The animals we brought out here are both great therapy animals and are easy to prepare and bring to campus.”

Her words rang true as students excitedly waited their turn to hold the bunnies, while others gathered carrots and stuck them through the fence to feed the goats and the sheep. The beloved animals were shy at first, but warmed up to physical touch upon persistence, as well as the prospect of food.

“Even for people to be able to hold a bunny or pet a goat, it’s an enjoyable experience and can be really helpful,” added Psi Lambda Delta president Trinity Spencer, who was pleasantly surprised by the event’s turnout.

“We’ve had waves of people come through, many of whom were here before the event even started.”

Other finals week stress relivers provided by the Student Life office included a Bingo night, a movie and Ramen night, and a music and puzzles night.

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