April 17, 2008

Etiquette dinner to boost student preparedness

by Eric Welch

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Imagine this: after your first day of work you sit down at an expensive restaurant for a formal dinner with your boss, and you see three forks, three spoons and two knives surrounding your plate. What do you do now – panic or show off?

To make this scenario work to students' advantage, University Housing and Residence Hall Dining at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are hosting a professional etiquette dinner for students at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, in Dining Room Five in Lentz Dining Hall.

Students can purchase tickets for the dinner at the Residence Hall dining office in the Lower Level of Grinnell Hall between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The deadline to purchase the $10 tickets is Friday, April 18.

Organizers are asking students who attend the dinner to dress professionally as they learn table manners, wardrobe wisdom, self marketing, interviewing tips and other skills to build strong professional etiquette.

The evening will revolve around an exquisite five-course meal prepared by Chef Bill and the Lentz Hall dining staff and will conclude at 7:30 p.m.

For more information, call 618/453-3788 or email mostien@siu.edu.