An Information Technology fair will be providing free swag, games and technology opportunities to students on Tuesday, Oct. 6, in the Hoosier Room from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Make IT Happen TechFest, hosted by the office of Information and Technology, will have 30 booths occupied by computer, software and cell phone vendors.
Some campus offices and programs will also have booths.
“They will be providing attendees with information, resources and the latest updates on their services and programs,” Tom Prinz, manager of Support Services, said.
Students can obtain free swag like T-shirts, pencils, pens and highlighters at booths and can get their picture taken with the IUS mascot, Gus Grenadier.
Other booths will be there to educate students about their technology services and programs.
A Wii game system will be set up, giving students the opportunity to battle it out on a virtual tennis court against members of the IUS tennis team.
IT will set up Rock Band 2 on a game system for students wanting to play it.
Students will also get the opportunity to win a masked, screaming monkey.
Danny Clements, IT helpdesk support specialist, said the IT booth will be giving out cards to students. If the student visits at least six booths on the card they will be able to slingshot a stuffed, screaming monkey at a target, winning the monkey if they make the shot.
Dining Services will be featuring their Kick’n Chick’n sandwich with pepper jack cheese that can be purchased. Prices for sandwich and chips will be listed at the event.
Prinz said popcorn and a limited supply of Graeter’s ice cream will also be provided at the TechFest.
The TechFest has expanded to fill the Hoosier Room, where it was once held in the Multi-Purpose Room before renovations to the University Center.
“There are about 10 more booths this year,” Prinz said.
Best Buy, Dell, Microsoft and Verizon are some of the technology vendors that will be attending the event.
Prinz said AT&T Inc. and Adobe are new this year.
AT&T Inc. gives a 15 percent student discount on rate plans for students of IU Southeast and Adobe is part of IUWare, which is available to students online at www.iuware.iu.edu.
The Horizon will also have a booth with a video camera and green screen showing the technology used in the newscast’s online broadcasting.
Campus services such as Campus Life, Resident Life, the Common Experience program, the Adult Student Center and the Children’s Center will be attending.
Kim Pelle, coordinator for the Adult Student Center and co-chair for the Common Experience, said the TechFest gives campus services a chance to highlight their areas by providing information about upcoming events and how the different offices and programs can benefit students.
“We’re putting ourselves out there,” Pelle said.
The IUS Make IT Happen TechFest will be named TechFest next year. It is held annually and students can exhibit technology showcases of their own at the event.
“No students signed up for it this year,” Prinz said.
By LEAH TATE
Staff Writer
lmtate@ius.edu