Students swarmed into the first floor lounge of the Memorial Union for music, refreshments and a prize giveaway to celebrate the grand opening of the new Center for Student Involvement yesterday afternoon. There was a raffle for prizes such as an iPad and a 32-inch flatscreen LCD TV, plus gift baskets donated by eight Registered Student Organizations.

“This is basically a grand opening celebration for CSI,” said Union Activities Council President Eden Tullis. “The new Center for Student Involvement opened one week after spring break. We set the date for the event when we moved into our new location.”

The new area was opened up to students for tours. Tullis said that CSI started planning for the event in November and that UAC was “very excited” to host the event.

“The grand opening is just very exciting,” said Ashley Vogts, ASG president. “Students usually don’t get to know much about what CSI does. This gives them a better look at who they are and what they do.”

CSI member Enilisse Ortiz said they were not the only group participating in the event on Wednesday afternoon. The Office of International Education, Greek Life, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Associated Student Government, L.E.A.D., Community Hornets, P.R.I.D.E. and the Earth Science Club also participated, setting up booths or donating prize baskets for the raffle.

“ASG also has a booth there with fliers that have information about what ASG does,” Vogts said.

Ortiz said CSI wants to encourage students to come by and check out the new facility.

“It’s also an opportunity for students to find out information about groups relevant to their interests,” Ortiz said.

Tullis said that with the union renovations, she has noticed more people in the lounge area by the CSI.

CSI has also started planning another event for students next year. Tullis said CSI is getting ready to put together a time capsule in the fall and hide it within a recess in a wall in the newly finished Memorial Union, close to where the new CSI is located.

“We recently dug up a time capsule when the renovations to the Memorial Union started,” Tullis said. “We are really looking forward to doing the time capsule in the fall.”

Steve Edwards

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