25th annual UIS Springfest begins with Scavenger Hunt

Hundreds of students helped to kick off the 25th annual Springfest celebration at the University of Illinois Springfield with the annual Scavenger Hunt on April 17, 2017. Springfest is one of the longest running student traditions on campus, which started in 1992.

Scavenger Hunt participants were given a surprise list of more 200 items to collect during a one-hour period. Points were awarded based on the number of total items collected.

Students were not allowed to use cars, bikes, or other transportation and had to collect all of the items on campus.

This year, there are 45 teams expected to participate in Springfest for a total of 630 students.

UIS students to Trick-or-Treat for Canned Goods to benefit the Central Illinois Foodbank

WHAT: University of Illinois Springfield students will be going door-to-door on Halloween night collecting canned goods for the Central Illinois Foodbank. The goal is to collect more than 10,000 pounds of food. 

WHEN: Monday, October 31, 2016 from 4 to 8 p.m. 

WHERE: Various Springfield neighborhoods (call for specific details)

 DETAILS: A total of 18 teams, consisting of nearly 175 students, have registered for the annual Trick-or-Treat for Canned Goods drive. The teams have been assigned specific neighborhoods to collect non-perishable food items.

Earlier this month, the teams canvassed the neighborhoods and distributed door hangers that explained the project. Collected items will be weighed and prizes will be awarded to the teams that collect the most food.

The Central Illinois Foodbank distributes over 9 million pounds of food annually to over 150 food pantries, soup kitchens, residential programs and after-school programs in a 21 county region.

Kids at the UIS Cox Children’s Center also went trick-or-treating on campus this past week to collect nonperishable food items for the new UIS Cares Food Pantry, which is open to all UIS students in need.

For more information on Trick-or-Treat for Canned Goods, contact Mark Dochterman, director of the UIS Volunteer & Civic Engagement Center, at 225/921-9398, or go to www.uis.edu/volunteer. 

Media Coverage: To arrange media coverage on the day of the event, please contact Mark Dochterman at 225/921-9398.

UIS to break ground on first-ever student union building on campus

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield will break ground on its first-ever student union building, a $21.7 million project. University of Illinois President Timothy Killeen will be joined by UIS Chancellor Susan Koch, and Springfield Mayor Jim Langfelder for the groundbreaking ceremony.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 4, 2016, at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: UIS South Quad – Parking available in the University Hall or TRAC lots

DETAILS: The two-story, 50,000-square-foot facility will anchor the campus’s south quad, providing campus dining services, a coffee shop, a ballroom with seating for up to 450 people and a Student Leadership Center that will house student government, volunteer offices and workspaces for student organizations. The facility is scheduled to open in January 2018.

More than $5.3 million in gifts have been raised and officials say they will meet their $8 million fundraising goal before the facility opens. The remaining $13.7 million will be paid through campus funds and a construction fee that students approved in a 2012 referendum.

The new facility will fill a void that has grown since UIS became part of the University of Illinois system in 1995. The campus originally catered to upperclassmen and graduate-level students, but is now a traditional four-year school without the central gathering place for students.

William Brothers Construction Inc. of Peoria will be the general contractor for the project. Subcontractors include E.L. Pruitt Co. of Springfield, Commercial Mechanical Inc. of Dunlap and Foster Jacob Electric Inc. of Peoria. Dewberry Architects of Peoria and Workshop Architects of Milwaukee, Wisconsin developed design plans for the new facility.

For more information, contact Derek Schnapp, UIS director of public relations, at 217/206-6716 or dschn3@uis.edu.

Springfest 2016 ends with mud tug-of-war

Students at the University of Illinois Springfield ended Springfest 2016, a week-long event featuring a variety of fun and educational competitions, with the annual mud tug-of-war on April 23.

Springfest is one of the longest running and most popular traditions at UIS. Springfest challenges include a scavenger hunt, trivia night, flag & chant competition, and sports day.

For more information, visit the Springfest Facebook page.

Springfest 2015 ends with mud tug-of-war

Students at the University of Illinois Springfield ended Springfest 2015, a week-long event featuring a variety of fun and educational competitions, with the annual mud tug-of-war on April 25.

The theme of the 2015 competition was “Where Dreams Come True”.

Springfest is one of the longest running and most popular traditions at UIS. Springfest challenges include a scavenger hunt, trivia night, flag & chant competition, and sports day.

For more information, visit the Springfest Facebook page.

Springfest 2014 ends with mud tug-of-war

Students at the University of Illinois Springfield ended Springfest 2014, a week-long event featuring a variety of fun and educational competitions, with the annual mud tug-of-war on April 19.

The theme of the 2014 competition was “Clash of the Comics”, which featured a total of 34 teams made up of over 350 students.

Springfest is one of the longest running and most popular traditions at UIS. Springfest challenges include a scavenger hunt, trivia night, flag & chant competition, and sports day.

For more information on Springfest, visit their Facebook page.

Scavenger Hunt kicks off 21st annual UIS Springfest

Over 350 students helped to kick off Springfest 2014 with the annual Scavenger Hunt on April 14, 2014. Springfest is one of the longest running student traditions on campus, which started in 1992.

Scavenger Hunt participants were given a surprise list of over 200 items to collect during a one-hour period. Points were awarded based on the number of total items collected.

“It’s a really big team builder because students get to go together and try and find items in their homes, they have fun finding the weird items,” said Leanne Deak, Student Activities Committee traditions co-chair.

Students were not allowed to use cars, bikes, or other transportation and had to collect all of the items on campus.

“I love Springfest,” said Jacquie Levine, a senior Global Studies major. “It’s kind of the highlight of my year, every year, at UIS.”

While some items on the list were straightforward, other items were a little harder to locate. Some of the stranger items on this year’s list included a pair of apple bottom jeans, boots with the fur, and a tent.

For a complete list of Springfest activities, visit https://www.facebook.com/Springfest2013AtUIS.

Springfest 2013 ends with mud tug-of-war

Students at the University of Illinois Springfield ended Springfest 2013, a week-long event featuring a variety of fun and educational competitions, with the annual mud tug-of-war on April 27.

The theme of the 2013 competition was “The Springfest Games”, which featured a total of 29 teams made up of over 400 students.

Springfest is one of the longest running and most popular traditions at UIS. Springfest challenges include a scavenger hunt, trivia night, flag & chant competition, and sports day.

For more information on Springfest, visit their Facebook page.

Springfest 2013 begins with Scavenger Hunt

Over 400 students helped to kick off Springfest 2013 with the annual Scavenger Hunt on April 22, 2013. Springfest is one of the longest running student traditions on campus, which started in 1992.

Scavenger Hunt participants were given a surprise list of over 200 items to collect during a one-hour period. Points were awarded based on the number of total items collected.

“Teams are given entire freedom as to how they want to parcel out the Scavenger Hunt list and some people come up with really innovative ways to do the Scavenger Hunt itself. It’s really exciting,” said Matt Dobill, Student Activities Committee traditions co-chair.

Students were not allowed to use cars, bikes, or other transportation and had to collect all of the items on campus.

“It was just really intense and I felt like really under pressure to get everything,” said Parker Sheley, a freshman visual arts major.

While some items on the list were straightforward, other items were a little harder to locate. Some of the stranger items on this year’s list included a matching pair of left shoes, a coconut bra, and a butterfly net.

For a complete list of Springfest activities, visit https://www.facebook.com/Springfest2013AtUIS

Annual Involvement Expo helps connect students

The University of Illinois Springfield hosted its annual Welcome Week Involvement Expo in an effort to get students active on August 29, 2012. The expo featured over 100 student organizations, clubs, community groups, and businesses.

“It’s kind of a one-stop shop where they can see what’s all around campus and really find where they fit in,” said Travis Lister, Involvement Expo coordinator.

Freshman English major Grace Latimore came to the expo looking to get involved. She’s not only looking to meet new friends, but gain valuable experience.

“I know college is all what you make it,” said Latimore. “I really want to get involved in a bunch of different groups and activities and just make these next four years special.”

Getting involved has paid off for seniors, such as psychology major Wesley Hill. He came to the Involvement Expo last year and is now president of the Psychology Club.

“It’s a great way to meet people. It’s a great way to do activities that will look good on a resume for the future,” said Hill.

Many students left the event with new found interests and their names on email mailing lists.

“Hopefully I’ll get some information and I can get involved as soon as possible,” said Latimore.

Watch party for former UIS Olympic athlete Richard Oruche scheduled for August 2

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield will hold a watch party for former standout guard Richard Oruche, who will be playing on the Nigerian basketball team in the 2012 Summer Olympics. He is believed to be the first UIS athlete to play in the Olympic Games.

WHEN: Thurs., Aug. 2, 2012 from 4 to 7 p.m.

WHERE: Stars Lounge, located in the Student Life Building on the east side of the UIS campus. Visitors should park in Lot B.

DETAILS: Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members are invited to come and watch Nigeria play Team USA. The game will be broadcast live on a large projection screen and several televisions. FREE wings, chips and salsa, quesadillas and other snack food, along with soft drinks, will be available to those in attendance.

Oruche, 24, graduated from UIS in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He has been playing basketball professionally in Portugal for two seasons. He holds dual Nigerian and United States citizenship and was invited to play on the Nigerian team earlier this year.

A Bensonville, Ill. native, Oruche led the Prairie Stars in scoring (19.8 points per game) and rebounding (5.8 rebounds per game) during the 2009-10 season, the inaugural year of Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) membership. Oruche was the first UIS student-athlete to earn postseason accolades from the GLVC by being named second team All-GLVC. He was also the first Prairie Star student-athlete to earn the league’s Player of the Week award in December 2009. He spent two seasons at Northern Illinois University as a red shirt freshman before transferring to UIS.

For more information, contact Derek Schnapp, director of public relations at 217/206-6716 or dschn3@uis.edu.

UIS Springfest welcomes Jenga XXL as new sports day competition

The University of Illinois Springfield introduced Jenga XXL as a new competition during this year's Springfest, a week-long event during which students compete in a variety of fun and educational events. As students found out, Jenga is a game that requires both skill and focus.

A total of 38 Springfest teams competed to see who could create the tallest Jenga tower without it falling. The game forced teams to remove lower blocks, which in turn made their towers unstable. Winner in the first round were determined by the number of block removed after two minutes. Six teams competed in a final round where the final tower standing won.

“I play every now and then,” said Dyllan Tiburzi, a chemistry major. “I heard we were having it for Springfest this year, so I’ve been doing a bunch of research like a nerd trying to find a perfect strategy for it.”

Several teams practiced for the Jenga competition before the event in an effort to develop their own winning strategies.

“We went in with a strategy of take out the middle ones, stack as high as we can, keep on going as fast as we could,” said Leigha Light, a clinical laboratory science major.

Many of the students grew up playing Jenga as a child, but had never seen a set this large.

“Jenga is really cool. This is the first time I’ve seen something like this,” said Prerna Khullar, a business major. “I’ve always seen it as little blocks.”

The Jenga competition came at the end of a long day of physical activities. Caitlyn Clausen, a accounting major, said she enjoyed the game because it was something different.

“I thought it was a lot of fun,” said Cluasen. “It kind of focused on team strategy more and playing a game and you really had to work on your communication with your teammates.”

The eight Jenga sets used during Springfest were donated by the company. Student Life plans to utilize the sets again during Welcome Week and next year at Springfest.

Scavenger Hunt marks the start of the 20th Springfest

A record number of over 500 students helped to kick off Springfest 2012 with the annual Scavenger Hunt on April 23, 2012. Springfest is an annual tradition on campus, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

Scavenger Hunt participants were given a surprise list of over 200 items to collect during a one-hour period. Points were awarded based on the number of total items collected. Students were not allowed to use cars, bikes, or other transportation and had to collect all of the items on campus.

“It was amazing. We were running around and the whole team was kind of scattered. There was a time when we kind of all panicked, but we all had fun,” said Sam Zhang, a junior global studies major.

While some items on the list were straightforward, other items were a little harder to locate. Some of the stranger items on this year’s list include a hockey stick, asparagus, and bacon.

“Everything was weird. There was not a normal thing on there, but we got a lot, so that’s all that matters,” said Ethan Morris, a senior accounting major.

Springfest is one of the longest running student traditions on campus, which started in 1992. The number of students involved continues to grow each year.

For a complete list of Springfest activities, visit www.uis.edu/studentlife/traditions/Springfest.html

Homecoming and Family Weekend 2011 events

The University of Illinois Springfield is celebrating Homecoming and Family Weekend the week of October 10 through 15, 2011. The theme of Homecoming Week 2011 is “We Bleed Blue”. The following is a partial list of events. To view a full list of Homecoming activities, including athletic events, visit www.uis.edu/homecoming.

Mashed Potato Sculpting

WHAT: The UIS Office of Student Life will hold its ever popular Mashed Potato Sculpting contest. Students will use spuds to create displays based on the homecoming theme “We Bleed Blue”.

WHEN: Thursday, October 13, 2011 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE: Public Affairs Center, Food Emporium Patio (Rain location: PAC Concourse)

DETAILS: UIS Food Service prepares 25 pounds of “extra stiff” potatoes which students use for sculpting. Students decorate the mashed wonders with everything from food coloring to glitter. Volunteers judge each design on creativity and theme.

Lincoln Legacy Lecture Series: “Lincoln and the Civil War”

WHAT: “Lincoln and the Civil War” is the theme of the 9th Annual Lincoln Legacy Lecture at the University of Illinois Springfield.

WHEN: Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Brookens Auditorium, located on the lower level of Brookens Library on the University of Illinois Springfield campus.

DETAILS: The speakers will be Michael Burlingame, Naomi B. Lynn Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies at UIS, and Lucas E. Morel, Lewis G. Term Professor of Politics at Washington and Lee University. Cullom Davis, Emeritus Professor of History, will serve as moderator. The event is free and open to the public; no reservation is required.

UIS Homecoming Parade

WHAT: The parade is an annual tradition of Homecoming at Illinois Springfield. We hope you come out to enjoy the festivities, the UIS band and much more!

WHEN: Friday, October 14, 2011 at 4:15 p.m.

WHERE: UIS Campus – The parade will start in parking lot C-north and end in parking lot G south of the University Hall Building.

DETAILS: Participation in the parade is open to student organizations, athletic teams, residence halls, campus departments, businesses and non-profit organizations. Great prizes are awarded to student organizations and community entries.

UIS Homecoming BBQ

WHAT: The UIS Student Activities Committee (SAC) will host its annual BBQ following the parade.

WHEN: Friday, October 14, 2011 from 4:45 to 7:15 p.m.

WHERE: South Quad near the University Hall Building

DETAILS: Come join us for food, drinks, and fun. Students don't forget to bring your I-card! The cost for non-students is $5.

Homecoming 5K Run/Walk

WHAT: The Department of Recreational Sports at UIS is hosting the 3rd annual Homecoming 5K Run/Walk. The race is open to all UIS students, faculty, staff and community members.

WHEN: Saturday, October 15, 2011 with registration beginning at 7:30 a.m. and the race starting at 9 a.m.

WHERE: The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) at UIS

DETAILS: The cost to enter the 5K is $25 until Oct. 15 and $30 the day of the event. Registration forms can be found at the Rec Sports office in TRAC or can be downloaded from the Rec Sports website at www.uis.edu/recsports/.

“Through the Decades” Luncheon

WHAT: The UIS Office of Alumni Relations will host a “Though the Decades” Luncheon featuring alumni from the 1986 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship team.

WHEN: Saturday, October 15, 2011 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE: Sangamon Auditorium Lobby, 2nd Floor Public Affairs Center

DETAILS: This year marks the 25th anniversary of the national championship victory. The luncheon program will feature team members and coaches of the era who will share stories and reminisce on Prairie Stars athletics and life at the University. Business casual attire is suggested. The cost is $10/person.

U-Help, I-Help Springfield Service Event

WHAT: The University of Illinois Springfield Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center and Office of Alumni Relations is hosting the annual Homecoming U-Help, I-Help Springfield Service Event.

WHEN: Saturday, October 15, 2011 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: St. Joseph’s Home (3306 South 6th Street Road, Springfield)

DETAILS: Students will be volunteering to help serve residents lunch. They will also be spending time with the seniors and helping them get to different activities that will be going on at the home.

UIS Students vs. UIS Alumni/Faculty/Staff BB Game

WHAT: Students will face off against Alumni/Faculty/Staff in an annual tradition designed to foster teamwork.

WHEN: Saturday, October 15, 2011 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) at UIS

To view a full list of Homecoming activities visit www.uis.edu/homecoming.

Involvement Expo presents students with a wide range of opportunities

Hundreds of students crowded the University of Illinois Springfield quad during the annual Involvement Expo to learn more about student organizations, campus departments, community agencies, and local businesses.

“It’s a great opportunity to find your niche on campus,” said Trevor Lister, Student Life graduate assistant. “There are so many diverse opportunities here.”

Sophomore Lyssa Barth has learned the importance of being active on campus. She’s still involved with many of the organizations she signed up for at last year’s Involvement Expo. This year she came to see what was new.

“I know that the programs here are incredibly amazing and I can get a lot of information,” said Barth.

For freshman Jillian Risinger, the experience is a bit overwhelming, but she knows the importance of staying active. Already in her residence hall, she’s been keeping the door open, introducing herself and trying to meet new people.

“That helps people walk over and get to know you, so that’s just when me and my roommate have been doing. It’s been working pretty well,” said Risinger.

While it’s good to be involved, Barth cautions new students that it is important to know your limit and not overload yourself.

“As a freshmen, I signed up for everything and then I had this huge inbox of like 30,000 things, but by all means if you can handle it go ahead and sign up,” said Barth.

More than 100 organizations participated in this year’s Involvement Expo.

Freshmen welcomed to UIS residence halls as fall semester begins

Hundreds of new college freshmen and their parents flooded the campus of the University of Illinois Springfield on Wednesday, August 17, 2011. The students spent the day moving into Lincoln and Founders Residence Halls with the help of dozens of volunteers.

“There’s a sense of excitement about move-in day that I think is like nothing else,” said Susan J. Koch, UIS chancellor. “One of the things I enjoy more than anything is just spending a little time with students and their parents.”

Students were assigned arrival times in an effort to avoid headaches and congestion. Volunteers helped direct parents to parking spaces, helped with unloading, carried items, and led students to their new rooms.

“I wouldn’t say it’s military precision, but it’s close,” said John Ringle, UIS director of housing and residential life.

New freshmen student Marcella Flowers traveled to Springfield with her parents, John and Rosemary. She has been looking forward to this experience, but admits it’s not easy leaving home.

“I wasn’t nervous at first, but then I got nervous right when we pulled into Springfield,” said Marcella.

She passed up an opportunity to attend the University of Iowa, because she believed UIS was a better fit and her parents agree.

“We like the campus. We like that size of it and the layout and we think it’s a good fit for Marcella,” said John. “We like the fact it’s not as big as the Urbana-Champaign campus. We also like the fact that it’s a University of Illinois degree when she finishes.”

For others, like Iris McFall it’s hard to let her only son, Claude Henry, start the next chapter in his life, but she knows it will pay off in the future.

“I want nothing, but the best for him. I’m going to miss him, but I’m really excited, and so is he, that he’s going to be attending college,” said McFall.

For more on move-in dates and other details visit the UIS Housing website.

Leadership Retreat teaches students about involvement

Learning what it means to be a leader was at the heart of a University of Illinois Springfield event held for residence assistants, student organization presidents, mentors and volunteers before the start of the fall semester.

The 2-day Student Affairs Leadership Retreat was designed to encourage collaboration, educate students about campus resources and help participants develop their own leadership skills.

“They learn so many new skills. They make so many great connections with each other. They are able to meet with each other and start the year off with a very positive attitude,” said Mary Umbarger, student organization and leadership coordinator for UIS Student Life.

Senior Sociology major Blake Johnson enjoyed exploring his own personal values and learning how they shape his leadership abilities.

“I feel like it’s a reminder and a refresher to always have everything you do center around your values,” he said. “Make sure as you look into the future and everything you’re involved in is really centered around yourself as well as benefiting others around you.”

For other students, they plan to use the networking abilities they gained from the retreat to partner with other student organizations and leaders.

“Collaboration is very important because you get a wide range of students come out and support the program or event you’re having,” said Jinger Sanders, junior Biology major.

Graduate Political Science major Aimee Winebaugh realizes the value of having everyone come together and sharing ideas at once.

“It’s one thing to have an idea, but if you don’t know the people you need to connect with you can’t really go anywhere,” she said.

The retreat also focused on time management, which has often been a challenge for senior Business Administration major Ryan Thoroman, who admits to becoming too involved.

“Probably one of the biggest faults I’ve had in the past is spreading myself too thin,” he said. “I think (I need to) prioritize my involvement.”

This was the fourth year for the Leadership Retreat. A total of 105 participants took part in the event.

UIS offers extended service hours as students return

The following offices at the University of Illinois Springfield have announced extended service hours to accommodate students returning for the fall 2011 semester.

Admissions, Financial Aid, & Registration (Located in University Hall – UHB)

• Aug. 15-18 (Mon.-Thurs.) - 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Close at 5 p.m. on Fri., Aug. 19)
• Aug. 20-25 (Mon.-Thurs.) - 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Close at 5 p.m. on Fri., Aug. 26)
• Open Door Sat., Aug. 20 from 9 a.m. to Noon. Admissions staff will be available to assist with admissions and enrollment questions, as well provide a campus tour.
  

Bookstore (Located adjacent to Founders Residence Hall)

• Aug. 15-16 (Mon.-Tues.) – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Aug. 17-18 (Wed.-Thurs.) – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Aug. 19 (Fri.) – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Aug. 20 (Sat.) – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Aug. 22-25 (Mon.-Thurs.) – 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Aug. 26 (Fri.) – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  

Campus Health Services (Located in the Business Services Building, Room 20)

• Aug. 15-18 (Mon.-Thurs.) - 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Normal hours on Fri., Aug. 19)
• Aug. 20-25 (Mon.-Thurs.) - 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Normal hours on Fri., Aug. 26)
  

icard ID Center (Public Affairs Center, Room 108)

• Aug. 15-18 (Mon.-Thurs.) – 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Close at 5 p.m. on Fri., Aug. 19)
• Aug. 22-25 (Mon.-Thurs.) – 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Close at 5 p.m. on Fri., Aug. 26)
  

Parking Operations (Public Affairs Center, Room 119 – Near front entrance)

• Aug. 15-18 (Mon.-Thurs.) – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Close at 5 p.m. on Fri., Aug. 19)
• Aug. 20-25 (Mon.-Thurs.) – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Close at 5 p.m. on Fri., Aug. 26)
• The office is closed daily between from 1-2 p.m.
  

Springfest 2011 concludes with mud tug-of-war

Students at the University of Illinois Springfield will not soon forget Springfest 2011, a week-long event that featured a variety of fun and educational competitions.

This year's competition ended in a tie with the teams “X-Men in Black” and “The Aqua’holic’ man & his 14 Fantastic Loco's” both taking first place. More than 30 teams, which were comprised of over 400 students, entered the competition.

The week ended with the annual mud tug-of-war, which has become a staple of the Springfest tradition. The rope, which has been used in the competition for the past 18 years, broke as students battled for the championship. It was quickly repaired and action continued as students tried to avoid the mud!

For more information on Springfest visit the Student Life website.

UIS students create Box City to raise homeless awareness

Students at the University of Illinois Springfield created cardboard shelters and slept on the quad on April 13, 2011 in an effort to educate fellow students about homelessness.

The cardboard build was part of the annual UIS Springfest celebration, a week-long event where students compete in a variety of fun and educational competitions.

The only thing the students were allowed to bring with them was a blanket and a flashlight. No electronic devices were allowed and points were awarded based on how many students spent the night.

“They’re probably going to have fun, but also at the same time they are going to be out in the elements,” said Jacob Stodgel, student co-chair of the Springfest committee. “They are going to have to be out here the whole night to get the points.”

Students know homeless living on the streets have it much worse than they do sleeping on the campus quad, but they hope this bring awareness to the problem.

“We’ll have a firsthand experience, not quite as authentic as it could be, but I think it will open up our eyes a little bit,” said John Bauman, a junior Computer Science major.

Criminal Justice and Psychology major Meredith Quarello feels the homeless are often forgotten. She realizes homelessness is a growing problem in Springfield and across the nation.

“I think it’s something that is really overlooked, because all of us are so fortunate to be able to come to college and have those opportunities. I think it’s something we really overlook in society,” said Quarello.

The students were given 11 hours to build their shelters, which could only be made from cardboard and duct tape. Decorations were also allowed, but they could not support the structure.

“We went to Lowe’s, hardware stores, television stores and things like that. We have a few 80 inch TV boxes, which are huge,” said Bauman.

The sleep out on the quad began with students hearing from members of the Springfield organization Homeless United for Change (HUC). The “Faces of the Homeless Panel” featured individuals who are or have been homeless sharing their stories.

“I think this is an amazing thing we’re doing, because it’s unfathomable for many students,” said Julia Hancock, a sophomore Clinical Laboratory Science major.

This was the first time the Box City event has been part of the UIS Springfest celebration. The event was sponsored by the UIS Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center and the Student Activities Committee (SAC).