Coming Together For Students

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- Students at Mississippi State University are preparing for final exams and the university and community are coming together to help them.

MSU is providing unique places that offer resources beyond studying.

The Holmes Cultural Diversity Center is one of them.

“Students can get breakfast and lunch every day. We have some quiet study zones set up there, even some sleep mats for them if they need to take a little rest.”

And several students are taking full advantage of this new quiet space.

“I see that it’s very grateful to have a space like this because most of the time studying in your home can be very uncomfortable so this is a safe space where you can come and study it’s quiet and it also provides free food for those who probably aren’t able to get those resources outside of school.”

The Sportsplex in Starkville has also offered their space.

They transformed their gym and put up tables, chairs, and snacks for students who want an off campus venue to study at.

“It’s a quiet place and it’s also a place a little bit away from campus where hopefully they can get a little bit of breathing space and our Mississippi State transit service has a shuttle that will take students from campus there.”

Local coffee shops are also getting involved.

Strange Brew Coffee House has now stretched their store hours to 24 hours a day.

And owner Katelyn Reed says this is what the students need.

“When we first started we had students were a big part of our customer base and they needed somewhere to go to study and so we stayed open later and later and later at that time nobody else in Starkville was open 24 hours so we did it and it was a great success.”

And after a late night studying, MSU Police Chief Vance Rice says his officers are available to make sure students get back to their cars or dorms.

“Students aren’t focused right now on their personal safety as much as they are there finals finals are hugely important but their safety is also very important so we would love to see them using safe walk.”

Click here for more information on the Safe Walk program.