Indiana Memorial Union holds open house event

The Indiana Memorial Union's limestone walls pulsated Friday with hundreds of campus community members as the heart of campus presented "Openin' Up the House." In a full-day of games and activities organized by the IMU, Back Alley, Student Activities Office, IU Outdoor Adventure and the Union Board, campus community members explored various recreational opportunities the University offers.\nUnion Board marketing director and senior Sarah O'Brien believes "Openin' Up the House" was an attempt to introduce and familiarize campus community members with the recreational opportunities and activity possibilities available at the IMU. \n"I don't think students understand it's not so big and so hard to get through. We wanted to show them what this facility holds, what they can do in it and what it can do for them," she said. "It's a home away from home; you can get your hair-cut, eat, sleep. Also, your student organizations are here. There is nothing you can't do in this building."\nBeginning at noon, attendees tested their upper-body strength on an inflatable climbing wall in Dunn Meadow or listened to live bluegrass in the IMU Market. By mid-afternoon some campus community members were rolling balls in a bowling tournament, while others looked forward to the billiards tournament or the free skiing adventure film shown in the Whittenberger Auditorium. Before the midnight snack in the Market, the IMU played host to sports inflatables, a poker tournament, a poetry slam and the Comedy Caravan.\n"Openin' Up the House" hoped to attract and cater to campus community members like junior Scott McDonald, who believe the IMU resembles a mysterious labyrinth of winding corridors. \n"I usually enter (the IMU) through the rotating door by the circle drive, and walk up the stairs. I then walk down the hallway by the food places. I never know where to go or what to do" he said. "The IMU is useful. You can study and eat there, hang-out there. If you don't want to go home you can walk around there."\nSeveral student and community groups co-sponsoring the event took advantage of the increased student foot-traffic throughout the day. Sigma Lambda Beta brother and senior Omar Casillas used IMU's "Openin' Up the House" to promote his multicultural service fraternity.\n"The Student Activity Office allows student groups to co-sponsor certain events this way. Thankfully, they help us get our name out since we are the largest Latino fraternity in the nation and we were the first Latino fraternity in the state of Indiana," Casillas said. "We are here to help the IMU spread the word of union to students. The IMU is fun place to go for cheap thrills: cheap bowling, cheap pool, cheap food and movies for free with a student ID."\nOf all the activities and events sponsored by the IMU throughout the day, Union Board member and junior Mary Hansell believed the open-mic poetry slam in the IMUG was the most rewarding personally for the campus community members involved.\n"People should feel comfortable standing on the stage, it's such a positive experience. Everyone in the audience feels that way, and has felt that way," she said. "Some people feel more comfortable with the spoken word, song or dance. This is just one of our glorious programs giving students the opportunity to express themselves."\nIn addition to open-poetry events, the Union Board publishes the literary magazine Canvas once a semester, holds a student film festival each year and produces theatrical plays such as "Man of LaMancha," playing Nov. 19 and 20 at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.\nAnd the IMU maze need not terrify campus community members unable to attend the event. O'Brien wanted IMU patrons to know assistance is usually found around every corner.\n"Get inside and talk to somebody in a red coat who works there. People are willing to help you navigate the building," she said. "Students should do something different while there are here in college. Throughout the year, we offer activities, food and tournaments for all kinds of people."\n-- Contact staff writer David A. Nosko at dnosko@indiana.edu.