For the next two days, students can do something other than study between classes.
And students could also be coming home after their classes with more than just books.
The Sports Illustrated Campus Fest returns today to MSU with its full array of exhibits, games, sporting activities, sweepstakes and free stuff.
The event is being held behind the rock on Farm Lane from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Wednesday.
Everything is free and open to the public.
University Housing is responsible for bringing the event - America’s largest, most interactive college tour - to MSU for the sixth time.
And some officials say Campus Fest is an opportunity for companies, campus groups and organizations to gain university exposure in a fun and relaxed outdoor setting.
“We think it’s worthwhile because students really enjoy it,” said Mark Simmons, Wonders Hall manager and chairperson of the University Housing Campus Fest committee. “Students can enjoy a couple days of activity and we get a chance to promote ourselves.”
This year’s event has some new additions, too. Organizers have arranged to host MTV’s Choose or Lose voter registration program to encourage students to vote in this year’s general election.
Other new highlights include offering free hot dogs and Pepsi Cola products and visits by Sparty and the MSU cheerleaders and MSU Motion, who will be performing short routines.
“We think we’ve got some great additions,” Simmons said. “It’s not strictly commercial. We like to have a university feel.”
The event is sponsored in conjunction with corporate sponsors through MarketSource Corp., a nationally based marketing firm which makes the occasion a unique mix of commercial and university-related exhibits, officials say.
MarketSource is bringing assorted games, information and freebies thanks to sponsors like Spa Pantene, which is offering minifacials and massages, and Old Spice High Endurance Red Zone, which is holding an arm wrestling challenge game.
“It’s a good way for students to try something out for free and see if they’d like to try it,” said Robert Barajas, MarketSource event manager.
The Residence Halls Association, Residence Life, Capital Area Transportation Authority, Olin Health Center and the Office of Study Abroad will be on hand to present games and information.
Simmons said the event has had as many as 8,000 students attend during a two-day period in the past and another large turnout is expected.
“It’s a much better campus ‘to-do’ because we get so much participation from the school,” Barajas said. “We have a lot of people show up.”
