There's a 10-page paper to worry about, big group projects on the horizon and no escaping finals week anxiety. The feeling seems to grow like a throbbing, purple bunion on a foot worn down by endless trips from class to the library, to the apartment and back to class, and so on.

However, warmth has finally triumphed over the seemingly perpetual State College winter, outfits are getting skimpier, and two guys in bunny suits are wrestling and frolicking on the HUB lawn. Spring is finally here, and for a lot of Penn State students that means a break from classes and monotonous textbooks is certainly in order.

Jason Smith (senior-architecture) was part of one of three groups outside the HUB-Robeson Center tossing a Frisbee, which seemed to be a popular pastime on campus last week. Smith said he has been extremely busy during the last two weeks and needed to take a break.

"I haven't slept for three days," said Smith, who had been finishing up a bound portfolio of all the architectural work he has done so far in his academic career. "We had a project due [April 28]. I was up for like a week, drinking Red Bull and stuff."

Smith said in addition to tossing the Frisbee around, he was able to enjoy a few rounds of golf last week in his hometown of Philipsburg. He said he had a big paper due Friday, and he wanted to enjoy last week's weather before finishing up.

Rachel Kugelman (sophomore-theatre and marketing) was also on the HUB lawn last Tuesday for a lunchtime hiatus from classes instead of studying for her upcoming theatre finals. Kugelman said she would find time to study, but that there is always temptation to slack off a bit during the last week of classes when the weather is nice.

But she said because some professors have given finals early, they have not made slacking off an easy thing to do.

"They think they're being nice by not giving you finals during [this] week, but that really just makes it more hectic," Kugelman said.

For Kugelman, hanging out and partying with friends during the week has increased during the last days of class, and so has the number of runs for frozen yogurt, or "fro-yo," she said.

Kugelman added because of the new, sunny climate, she was persuaded by her friend to take a bike ride on the steep, hilly trail north of campus. She said her muscles ached for a week, but it was still a good time.

Shopping, partying and lying outside have topped Meredith Knofsky's (sophomore-premedicine) list of activities for springtime slacking this semester, she said.

"I don't have time, but I'm making time," she said, propping herself up with her elbows on a beach towel. "I just took the [Medical College Admission Test], so I'm kind of taking a break."

Adam Piorkowski (junior-film and philosophy) said the entire university seems different in the spring.

"The whole mood through campus just changes when the sun comes out. During the rest of the semester, everyone's got their winter faces out. Everyone's grimacing," he said.

However, Piorkowski said he took all of his finals last week, and there was really no time to slack off. He said he had been waking up earlier, getting less sleep and barely had time to take a quick break for lunch on the lawn.

"It's nice out, and there's so much potential for just sitting out and doing nothing," he said.

But despite this urge, he said, he has not had a problem buckling down and wrapping things up for the semester's end.

"I worked so hard at the beginning, and I've come this far. I don't want to screw it up now," Piorkowski added.

Megan Collins (sophomore-sociology) said she has also been busy with finals, term papers and many extracurricular activities. She added, however, that there is nothing wrong with taking breaks to party, relax and catch up with friends who will not be around until next semester.

"I wouldn't say that I'm slacking," she said. "It's more like creative time management."