Gannon Knight Features

     Every semester, the late nights and stress of studying for finals can turn students into zombies. But instead of feasting on human brains, these students roam the campus with blank looks on their faces brought on by racked brains trying to retain information.
     To deal with this epidemic, the President’s office hosts the Mid-Knight Pancake Breakfast twice a year at the beginning of finals week in the fall and spring semesters.
     This year’s breakfast will be held from 9:30 p.m. to midnight Sunday in the Beyer Hall Cafeteria.
     G.U.E.S.T. services will be available for students who want someone to walk them home.
     Every year nearly 500 students descend on the cafeteria for this one night of breakfasting and revelry. Nancy Kelly, the Act 48 secretary in the education department, said the event started in 1994 when Monsignor David Rubino was president.
     “He felt the students needed a break – a fun thing to do,” she said. “[There was] talk about discontinuing it 7 years ago [but] students voiced opposition. So did the faculty.”
     Kelly said the event started out small but quickly grew into one of the most popular activities of finals week. Jeannine Kleocker, executive secretary in the President’s office, said that the event drew a crowd of 682 in December 2009 and welcomed 823 students in May 2009.
     Naturally, it takes a lot of raw materials to feed such a large crowd. According to Peter Mannarelli, director of Metz & Associates, it requires 90 pounds of sausage to feed this group. He said he must also order 180 pounds of eggs and 900 portions of hash browns.
     And, of course, one cannot forget the pancakes. Mannarelli said attendees go through 1,600 portions of pancakes and 12 gallons of syrup to cover the fluffy treats.
     Faculty and staff brave this massive amount of food every year to take on the task of serving students.
     If getting served free food by professors is not enough, the event also includes raffles. Kleocker said 25 to 30 donors contribute every year, giving students the opportunity to win things like Starbucks gift cards and Gannon apparel from the bookstore.
     Prizes are drawn throughout the night and students get to pick their prize.
     Chris Haight, a junior political science major, said he attends the event for the free food – but was pleasantly surprised to find out he won a prize.
     “Last time I won a Starbucks gift card, which was cool,” he said. “It’s nice to get a break from studying.”
     Sophomore pre-pharmacy major Andrea Oesterling said she opts to attend the biannual celebration to take a break from studying from finals.
     “I love the pancake breakfast,” she said. “And I’m hoping to win a prize this time.”
     The pancake breakfast offers a way for students to escape the four walls of the library and the pages of a textbook. The food, prizes and company of friends give students the chance to find a cure to their studying-induced zombie disease, and help them feel refreshed and ready to tackle the week ahead.