August 18, 2008

Student Center hosts open house on Thursday

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- What better way to start off the semester at Southern Illinois University Carbondale than with an all-day fest of entertainment, activities, food, freebies and prizes? It’s all happening at the 2008 Student Center Open House on Thursday, Aug. 21, from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m.

Special Programs and Center Events (SPACE) has planned the annual event, formerly known as “First Thursday,” since the mid-1970s as a way to welcome students to the Student Center and SIUC. Best of all, except for the food specials, everything is free!

Last year, students claimed more than 2,500 prizes and freebies and the 2008 Open House again offers plenty of free giveaways and prizes. Scavenger Hunt Bingo from 11 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. boasts prizes including a Sharp 15” LCD television, a CD jukebox, gift cards and much more.

Soda, T-shirts, coupons for McDonald’s and bowling and everybody’s favorite refill cup are just some of the freebies students can claim. Promoting Student Center services, the lime green cup gets soda refills anytime at the Student Center’s Market Place or McDonald’s for just 25 cents plus tax. Better still, by popular demand, the promotion covers both the fall and spring semesters, giving the cup a very extended refill life.

Students will want to pick up a free copy of “ABS” at the tables on the second floor in front of the administrative/ID office. “ABS,” short for “All By Students,” includes helpful information about the various Student Affairs departments at SIUC. Student Center graphics designer Nathan Bonner designed the cover of the four-subject notebook. Students snapped up last year’s debut notebook.

There’s something going on all day long at the open house, from Fortunes by Madame Bling in the Big Muddy Room to a buy one/get one free promotion at bowling. The Roman Room holds “Noon Tunes” while Crafts Galore at the lower level’s Craft Shop features glass beads, wax hands, pottery and more.

New Student Programs hosts “Making College Count” at 4 p.m. in the ballrooms. During the Registered Student Organization (RSO) Fair in Ballroom D and the International Lounge, scores of student organizations will have displays promoting their groups and offering information. At 7 p.m., there’s a free showing of the popular movie “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” in the Student Center Auditorium courtesy of SPC Films.

For more information, look online at www.siucstudentcenter.org <http://www.siucstudentcenter.org>