Free king cake, happy hour and “Fantastic Fridays” are just a few of the many activities planned to make the Union a campus hot spot.
Jason Tolliver, executive director of University Auxiliary Services and the Student Union, said he hopes to develop “Union Square,” an activity zone for students that will include the Union, the new parking garage, the Faculty Club and the Parade Ground.
“We want to provide an alternative to the current nightlife that is available,” Tolliver said. “We want to provide an opportunity for students who don’t drink or who don’t have transportation that reside on campus.”
Union officials are working with the Office of Campus Life, Student Government and the Office of Multicultural Affairs to develop activities to attract students to stay on campus, he said.
Tolliver’s ideas include booking more student-friendly concerts at the Union Theater and hosting movie marathons.
The festivities will begin around Mardi Gras with a king cake giveaway, said Allen Womble, graduate intern for the Union.
The rest of the activities kick off in early March. “Fantastic Fridays” will be an incentive program where students will be issued punch cards to be used only on Fridays.
“Each time you buy something or utilize a service in the Union, your card will be punched,” Womble said.
Once the card reaches its limit, students will then be eligible to enter into a raffle to win prizes, Womble said.
Students can get a head start on the punch card at the inaugural Happy Hour event, to be held at the beginning of March in conjunction with Open Mic night at the Union, Womble said. On that night, students will receive an extra punch in their card for Union purchases, and free popcorn and snacks will be offered.
Tolliver said he also plans to host activities during orientation when Roaring into the Halls and Bengal Bound happen.
Sarah Dubose, communication studies senior, said these activities would be an incentive for her to stay on campus.
“I’d actually have something to do because those bars are probably not the best place to be,” Dubose said.
 
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Contact Claire Caillier at [email protected]