Study breaks

Just about every event at the University of Chicago at which food is served is referred to as a "study break." Different culture/ethnic clubs, residential houses, etc., never seem to hold coffee hours, cocktail hours, or what have you. This has always confused me--how many people, even at Chicago, are studying so continuously that any snacking or chatting with friends must be referred to as a break from studying? During finals, sure, but second or third week or the quarter? Why not a break from blogging? Or from shelving books at the Reg, or from any number of other things one might have been doing prior to an event? Does the "study break" phenomenon exist at other colleges?