The University Center (UC) was alive and buzzing with students gathering for an evening of games, entertainment and prizes Jan. 31. Immediately after walking into the front door, attendees were greeted with colorful decorations and smiling faces, eagerly waiting to scan their HawkCards for their free entry.
The Winterfest Casino Night offered a variety of games, but the casino games were the evening’s standout attraction. Those who wished to participate were given a set amount of chips and could choose to gamble on a variety of classic table games including blackjack, poker, craps and roulette.
A wide variety of prizes were offered to those who proved their skill and luck at the table games, which ranged in value from pillows and mugs to televisions and iPads.
For those who preferred an alternative luck-based activity, Bingo was played in the Hamilton Room with over 80 people choosing to take part in the first round. Just outside was a featured mocktail bar, with an assortment of drinks including sparkling apple cider and Shirley Temple.
For those made peckish from busting out on blackjack and stamping their bingo cards, there were an assortment of free snacks and food to be enjoyed. Each person was allowed one free spin on a wheel for prizes such as free dining hall food and reusable water bottles.
While the upstairs area catered to those feeling lucky, the downstairs hosted a myriad of other activities. The karaoke lights were on full blast while the Summers Auditorium lights were dimmed for a screening of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”
Just next door the lanes offered free bowling and billiards, with a free raffle offered for students with a HawkCard. Prizes included blankets and cookware. Winners will be announced soon and notified via email.
While the Winterfest Casino Night was a night of games and friendship all around, it’s also imperative to note how events like these are meant to build and grow the community at UW-Whitewater. Logan Carter, a member of UC Live, an organization on campus dedicated to helping students become more involved on campus, explained some of the goals of the evening.
“Nights like this can really help new and transfer students get more involved, and meet new people,” Carter said.
Whitewater gets approximately 2000 new freshmen every year, and by offering them a free night of fun, they are successfully welcomed into the UW-W community and offered a stress-free way of meeting new people and making new friends.