Fun in store for Friday

Alestle Staff Report

Students, staffers and guests are invited to have a fun, free time at the 13th Tons of Fun celebration Friday in the Vadalabene Center.

The Wellness Center is again sponsoring Tons of Fun from 9 p.m. Friday until 2 a.m. Saturday. The games, contests and food are free to SIUE students and staff. There is a $1 charge for guests, and no one will be admitted after midnight.

Wellness Center coordinator Mary Baya said the goal is to draw 1,300 participants this year. More than 1,100 students, faculty and guests were at last year's Tons of Fun.

"This year will be bigger and better than ever because of all the special activities," Baya said.

This year's themes are "Truth or Scare" and "Are you working on your GPA (grade-point average) or your BAC (blood alcohol content)?"

Baya said the crowd-pleasers such as the dance, pie-throwing and miniature golf will be back as well as a maze, karaoke, scuba lessons, a giant obstacle course, a life-size Sega game, a gladiator event, cookie- and face-painting, a bungee run and more. Free pizza, sodas and cookies will be served.

Just in time for Halloween, participants can decorate and keep more than 100 pumpkins, Baya said.

"Students need to realize that they can have fun without getting drunk or high, so come on out and give us a try," Baya said.

There will be free transportation to and from Cougar Village and the residence halls until 2:15 a.m.

All the activities are sponsored by campus organizations. Some of this year's sponsors are Eta Sigma Gamma, Peer Health Educators, Sigma Gamma Rho, Alpha Sigma Tau, Alpha Phi and Societal Innovators.

Anyone interested in helping can contact Baya at 650-3873.......