The University Activities Board provided five hours of entertainment, known as the annual Super Saturday Night, to get students interested in what UAB offers.

"Students like free things," UAB Assistant Director Cathy Carson said. "The combination of U-Fest and Super Saturday was for student outreach. We want students to see programs sponsored by UAB."

The 11-year-old Super Saturday Night is the newer version of the U-Fest event held at the beginning of the year to welcome new students.

"U-Fest down at the Union is actually 24 years old, but every year it's been a success. We're hoping this Super Saturday continues the trend," Carson said.

Communication sophomore and UAB officer Rachel Bomeli said planning for the night, which was expected to bring 3,000 to 4,000 students, was a big endeavor.

"We began planning in June. It's an orientation, festival, welcome-back sort of thing for the students," Bomeli said.

UAB's eight student officers, combined with 60 to 80 student volunteers, helped make Super Saturday Night successful. This year's attendance doubled last year's total of about 2,000.

More than 1,300 people showed up in the first hour. Civil engineering freshman Chris Andrews said he was excited about the large number of freebies.

"I read about it from the e-mail, and some of my friends talked about it," Andrews said, toting an overflowing bag of goodies. "Right now I'm headed over to the caricatures."

Activities also included miniature golf, a make-your-own-CD booth and massage therapy.

"It's an unusual event," said Kristi Carmichael, a massage therapist with Creative Wellness Holistic Health Center, 2025 Abbott Road. "It exposes people to our services."

While vendors giving out free products kept students in the lobbies busy, the Crossroads Food Court housed larger crowds with musical acts such as Capital Green, one of MSU's student jazz ensembles and The Farewell Drive.

"The jazz ensemble was really good," biology senior Nicole Adams said.

Although the bigger turnout was exciting for UAB officials, crowded spaces were frustrating for some.

"The lines were really long," hospitality business senior Beth Krainz said.

Many students waited at least 20 minutes to have their palms read, futures told or to have their pictures taken at the photo booth.

The UAB event ran from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Top prizes included two tickets to Las Vegas, a 2004 football student voucher, free textbooks from the Spartan Bookstore and a one-year membership to Gold's Gym, 4790 S. Hagadorn Road.