By Ashton Chugh
For those who tire of having to dress themselves every morning, relief is on the way with Wear Your Pyjamas To School Day at the University of Calgary — an event put on for Stress-less Week.
“We are seeing unprecedented levels of stress for students when they are faced with concerns of the 21st century [surrounding] the economic and political climate of post-secondary education,” said Students’ Union vice-president student life Ben Cannon, who helped organize Stress-less Week. “Students are more stressed out than they have ever been.”
To help remedy this, Cannon decided to eliminate Nog Fest and replace it with Stress-less Week, which goes from Dec. 2–6. In addition to Pyjama Day, the week will feature a variety of events focused on reducing student stress.
“[The] puppy room is the marquee event of the week,” Cannon said.
Cannon is working on getting senior administration to wear their pyjamas to work on Dec. 4. So far, student services director Jennifer Quin and vice-provost student experience Susan Barker have agreed to sport their pyjamas for the day. Cannon is also hoping U of C president Elizabeth Cannon will participate in a Stress-less Week show of solidarity with students and come visit the puppy room, which will open in December.
“Having Elizabeth Cannon in the puppy room is kind of my fantasy. Schools around the country are stressed out, and in response to this we have our upper administration standing in solidarity with students over these de-stress initiatives,” Cannon said.
When it comes to what he will wear on Pyjama Day, Cannon is no slouch.
“I’ve been doing some shopping. Maybe the Hugh Hefner style with the overcoat or a gold onesie. Only time can tell,” he said.