Auburn alumna Octavia Spencer treating students to finals week meals

Octavia Spencer ’94 remembers the stress final exams can cause, and to help ease students’ anxiety and provide a reason to take a study break, she is covering the cost of meals for Auburn students all week.

The Oscar-winning actress and College of Liberal Arts graduate partnered with Student Affairs to present War Damn Finals Cram, an event that will provide a variety of meals to students each day during the week of final exams.

The event kicks off Sunday, Dec. 5 at The Edge at Central Dining. From 10 p.m. to midnight, students are invited to stop by the dining hall, Auburn’s newest, to get a late-night meal before finals week begins the next day.

Spencer’s generosity continues throughout the week. Food trucks will be outside Ralph B. Draughon Library from 8–10 p.m., Monday, Dec. 6, through Wednesday, Dec. 8, to provide dinner for students on campus. Meals will be from student favorites NYC Gyro, Amsterdam Café and Philly Connection. On Thursday, Dec. 9, students can visit the Haley Concourse for to-go tacos from the Amsterdam Café War Damn Taco Truck. Meals will be available until the trucks run out of food.

For Spencer, the spirit of sharing meals with fellow students is a finals week tradition she remembers fondly, although she may not recall her attempt at cooking for her classmates as five-star cuisine.

“I remember when I was studying on the Plains, there was always someone in charge of food, and one time it was me for Spanish exams,” Spencer said. “Well, it didn’t turn out too great. We all did well on the exams, but I failed in the food category, so I don’t want any of you whose responsibility it is to feed everybody to fail the food portion.”

War Damn Finals Cram will help students take a much-needed break from screens to decompress, as well as make sure they are at their best before taking exams, which the goal Spencer set out to achieve.

“We’re so proud of you, and we want you to finish strong,” Spencer said. “Remember, you are Auburn made.”

War Damn Finals Cram schedule

Sunday, Dec. 5, 10 p.m. to midnight — The Edge at Central Dining

Monday, Dec. 6, 8–10 p.m., outside RBD Library — NYC Gyro

Tuesday, Dec. 7, 8-10 p.m., outside RBD Library — Amsterdam Café

Wednesday, Dec. 8, 8-10 p.m., outside RBD Library — Philly Connection

Thursday, Dec. 9, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Haley Concourse — Amsterdam Café War Damn Taco