Students got a healthy glimpse into Information Technology advancements at IU Southeast at the Make IT Happen TechFest on Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Lined with balloons and colorful booths, the Hoosier Room housed the TechFest which offered its annual glimpse into what is going on with Information Technology at IU Southeast.
Several vendors were represented at the event, including Adobe, AT&T and Dell Computers.
“We had a great turnout, people seem to enjoy themselves,” Nick Ray, director of IT Support and Communications, said.
Students gathered to play Rock Band II on a projector screen during their lunch break or challenged the IUS tennis team to a tennis match in the game Wii Sports.
“It has been a lot of fun,” Kayla Goodson, political science freshman, said, while picking up a free Adobe 30-day trial from a booth.
Students got free information, as well as free TechFest T-shirts, eco-friendly re-usable IU shopping bags, Graeter’s ice cream and the screaming monkeys which were given out by the Information Technology Department.
“We hope students come to the event and meet with the vendors or departments in IT and learn about different programs we offer,” Ray said, “along with having some fun and getting a screaming monkey.”
David Egger, AT&T campus sales representative, said AT&T gives students and faculty the opportunity to receive an 8 percent or 12 percent discount on their monthly wireless bill.
“The discount goes on voice and smart phone data plans,” Egger said.
AT&T was also showing students the new IUS mobile application for the iPhone. The application allows access to Oncourse, news on campus and a unique Student Technology Center availability feature which allows students to see which computer lab has an available seat.
“I never knew about the AT&T discount or the Lynda.com opportunity,” Sarah Wingfeld, fine arts freshman, said.
Lynda.com, which is an online training Web site for students to use free of charge to learn Adobe programs, was represented by the Information Technology department.
With Lynda.com, students can earn certification in various programs, which can be applied to a résumé. The offer goes until Dec. 20.
Another vendor at the event was Dell Computers. Dell offers IUS students a seven percent discount, as well as special bundles.
“The offer extends to all students and faculty, as well as alumni,” Jamie Stevens, account executive of Dell Computers, said.
The discount can be received online by visiting dell.com/IU or through the phone at 1-800-WWW-DELL.
Several student groups and departments on campus, including The Horizon and Women in Computing, participated in TechFest.
“We’re talking about bringing women into an often male dominated arena,” Ana Cherry, chair of Women in Computing, said.
Cherry said the group often focuses on talking to women about majoring in computers and encouraging younger women to consider work in the field.
At the IT Media Services booth, students could audition for various media work, including commercials.
“We always have open casting calls, students can come in today and audition,” Julie Bethany, Media Services coordinator, said.
Students unavailable to come to the TechFest still have an opportunity to audition for various positions in the IT Media Services.
“Ideally, we want a talent pool,” Scott McKenzie, video production specialist for IT Media Services, said. “So when an ad comes up last-minute, we can look at our pool and select when time is an issue.”
Kayla Goodson, political science freshman, said she had only seen it because she was going to The Commons at lunchtime.
“I had never heard about it or saw advertisement, but the location was great,” Goodson said.
By JESSICA MEYER
Staff Writer
jessmeye@ius.edu