the Informer

On Thursday, Nov. 18 the University is having its Second Annual Thanksgiving Dinner where students and faculty can reserve a table and have the benefit of getting better acquainted with one another while enjoying a meal.

Vice President Lee Peters of Student Affairs explains that the event is being held so it can give more unity to the community here on campus.

“The purpose of the entire dinner is so that students can ask one of their professors to come with them to the dinner, and share a table and get to know one another. It’s really so that it can bring the community family at the university together,” says Peters.

The dinner wont be anything like the typical Commons turkey and gravy. It will take place in Gengras Café where doors will open at 5 p.m. for seating and dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. Both students and faculty are encouraged to attend, as anyone is welcome as long as they reserve a seat.

Students can begin signing up now by going to the Commons, Gengras Café, or ID Office and asking a manager to make a reservation ahead of time.
Students are also encouraged to volunteer if they are interested in helping out at the dinner.

They can get the information at the same areas to make their reservations. There they can fill out a form which can then be mailed through intercampus mail to Chelsea Blum at Dining Services.

If students are interested in volunteering they must sign up before Friday, Nov. 12. However, students who are just planning on attending should show up early in order to find a seat for the dinner.

And for an entire Thanksgiving meal, it proves to still fit into a college student’s budget.

“The seating starts early and it’s a Hawk Card meal swipe plus five dollars for students and $15.99 for faculty and commuter students. If people want to get a seat they should reserve a spot,” explains Peters.

Anyone can attend the dinner, although commuter students should expect to pay extra if they don’t have a meal plan.

The dinner itself will be served family-style, as each table gets a Thanksgiving feast to share. It will be composed of appetizers, a full-course meal, and even dessert.

“I myself have invited at least 30 people, I hope students invite along a professor from their class to come along with them. It was successful last year, so it’s part of the reason why it’s going on this year as well,” says Peters.

Peters explained that a lot of the time at Gengras Café students eat alone, or with some friends, and the other purpose of the dinner is so that both faculty and students can get to know more about each other.

“It’s not only a good meal, but it’s real purpose is to cause people on campus to come and not only eat together, but come and spend more time with each other. I look at this as a community builder,” Peters states.

The dinner went on last year for the first time, students and faculty both attended, and Peters hopes that the same people that went last year will attend again, and bring new people to come with them.

“ I really would like to recruit more people to come to the dinner. I would like this to become a University Thanksgiving tradition for the years to come,” Peters says.