SMC Hops Into Bunny Break Ahead of Finals
Students crowded the lawn on the Santa Monica College (SMC) main campus quad on Tuesday, Dec. 2, for a “bunny break” hosted by the Associated Students (AS) to help students relax and have fun before finals.
The event was organized entirely by AS, a distinction AS Director of Activities Nahomy Rivas said made the day especially significant. “This event was strictly put on by the student government,” Rivas said. “It was fully student funded and it wasn’t in collaboration with a department or anything, so it felt nice to do the event as a whole and have something just by us.”
Rivas, who spearheaded the event, said she wanted to bring something lighthearted and comforting to campus as the semester winds down. “I just thought people needed some de-stress before finals and was like, why don’t we just have bunnies. I really love animals and loved the idea to spend a day with them,” Rivas said.
To make the event possible, Rivas reached out to Mia Qagi, owner of Baa Baa Barn LLC, a small family-run mobile petting zoo. “We’re a small family business, so it’s just me, my husband and my kids. We started about three years ago,” Qagi said. She brought eight of the company’s 18 bunnies — Holland Lops and Netherland Dwarfs, breeds she said are known for their calming nature.
According to Qagi, bunnies can be uniquely soothing companions. “They’re very soft, and when you’re stressed, you want something soft and calming, and you know, they don’t talk back. They sit there and listen to you and they don’t judge you,” she said.
Some questioned the ethics of bringing rabbits to a crowded campus. Under AS’s Instagram post announcing the bunny break, the Los Angeles Rabbit Foundation commented, “Where did the rabbits come from?” pointing out how the source of the animals wasn’t listed. Additionally, some students echoed this concern in person, wondering whether the rabbits might be overstimulated or stressed by the crowd size.
Qagi addressed these criticisms, saying, “We’re ARBA registered. We do lots of birthday parties, private events and colleges and universities, so our bunnies are raised to interact with many people. If we notice they’re scared or stressed, we will step in to give the bunny a break.”
As AS set up on the lawn, students started to arrive and began checking in by scanning a QR code, however before a proper line could form, many students rushed toward the bunny enclosure, prompting AS members and Qagi to yell for everyone to step back and wait.
Once the crowd was organized, students were allowed into the pen five at a time, each given three minutes to interact with the bunnies. They could pet the rabbits but were instructed not to pick them up, and Qagi supervised the interactions.
Throughout the event, the bunnies appeared calm, munching on grass and showing no visible signs of distress as students cycled through the enclosure. Qagi monitored the rabbits, occasionally repositioning them and gently intervening when needed.
AS also provided snacks and drinks, handing out additional prizes and trinkets to students who showed they followed the AS Instagram account.
Despite some criticisms, students said the break came just at the right time. “We waited in line to pet these little bunnies, and they’re so fluffy and really warm and they just like to eat,” said student Accel Rodriguez, gesturing to several bunnies nibbling on grass. “When I saw there was gonna be bunnies on campus I was like, why would they even do that? But then I realized, you know what, I need this; the students need this.”
As finals approach and the fall semester comes to a close, Rodriguez said the event offered more than a cute distraction. “We have a lot of students who work one, or maybe even two jobs, or students who are supporting their younger siblings and families. And I think having this time to interact with not only the bunnies, but with your inner child can really de-stress and heal you, especially on a nice, beautiful day like this,” Rodriguez said.