In order to raise awareness about the detrimental nature of sleep deprivation, a team of the College’s marketing majors have started a campaign to raise awareness about the effects of lack of sleep for marketing professor, Karen Becker’s, Competition project.

“Most college students have extremely busy schedules between studying, extracurricular activities, socializing, athletics, job hunting, etc., and if everyone could just get one or two extra hours of sleep each night it would make a huge difference in their lives,” said senior marketing major and team member Becky Gilman.

The team uses Twitter and Facebook to publicize facts about sleep deprivation from The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times.

According to Gilman, the team’s efforts have gotten them recognition from TCNJ Student Health 101, the College’s weekly health newsletter, and the Sleep to Live Institute, a state-of-the-art sleep research center based in Joplin, Mo.

“Our inspiration for the project was to make our followers think twice before only getting one to five hours of sleep per night. Adequate sleep (eight to ten hours per night) can actually help improve your grades and your ability to pay attention in class,” Gilman said.

According to Gilman, the campaign will run until March 1, and its goals are to have 200 followers on Twitter, have 50 people in pajamas in the Student Center on March 1, and have a contest for students to send in their craziest sleep deprivation photos.

Follow the campaign on Twitter @Need_Sleep #sleepdeprived to get more information on sleep deprivation.

It is common to see students sleeping in the library. (Photo courtesy of Need Sleep Twitter)