In an effort to boost attendance at tomorrow's home football game, Dining Services has decided to close Noyer Center in the Noyer Complex and Out of Bounds and Courtside in the LaFallotte Complex Saturday afternoon.
During the day, a picnic in the main shelter of the stadium will provide students on a meal plan with food such as hamburgers, brats, potato salad, Ben and Jerry's ice cream and Pepsi products. Students can use their student ID cards like they normally would in the dining halls to purchase the meal.
"It's only for the noon meal, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m." said Ann Talley, director of Residence Halls and Dining Services and university catering.
Talley said Dining Services recognizes that not everyone will be interested in going to the football game, thus they will open the Atrium which is centered in campus, as well as Cardinal Crossing in the Student Center.
"I think it's a good idea because there are some events on campus we need to get people to go to, football being one of them," said Mike Slocum, a fifth-year senior majoring in history and political science and a residence assistant in Tichenor Hall.
Dining Services made this decision on its own to help support the football team, said Liz Vanmatre, assistant director of operations for Residence Halls and Dining Services. The decision was not made with the athletic department.
"(The athletic department) wants people to come to the game, but this is our way of contributing," Vanmatre said.
While this plan does serve the university as a means to get students out to the football game, many students don't agree with the methods being used to encourage them to go.
"They are trying to force students to go the football game," said Luke Roetman, a sophomore computer science major. "If students choose not to go to the football games, they are being forced to go to either the Atrium or the Student Center. There should be all available places to eat like on any other weekend."
To combat a sense of negativity, Vanmatre said the Atrium will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 7 p.m. to accommodate for the increase of students on campus during a home-game weekend.
A live band will also play to promote numbers at the game. Cook & Waters is a country band and is locally known with great harmonics, Talley said. There will also be inflatable games.
"We hope that everyone would come out to the game and have a wonderful time," Tally said.
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