Turn On Your Gaming Gears NEIU!

On Tuesday, Sept. 6, Alumni Hall was turned into a gaming arcade, with arcade games, billiards and mini-basketball. The eager students lined up during activity hour and rushed in to play and participate. Even after activity hour a large number of students returned, despite ongoing classes. Some time ago, a gaming system was set up at the Golden Eagles' Nest, which was well received by the students for a month and was taken down suddenly for unknown reasons.

Anime Club has been arranging their highly anticipated game nights bi-monthly on Friday evenings for some time to an overwhelming response. Anime Club's former president Jovan Ebio said, ‘The club members buy games on their own and we ourselves arrange gaming systems." Ebio continued, "I am really proud to say that the club likes to share most of the games. It's great that we all are collaborating and organizing our resources; we try to be as much cost effective as we can with our resources."

Most gamers think that, despite having an insatiable thirst and passion for gaming, why do they have to wait for events like this to happen to quench their thirst? The Board of Trustees approved a grant for the construction of a student lounge, even though students express a need for a permanent gaming area of their own on campus.

Proponents believe that not only will it make students stay at the campus, it can also help them socialize with other students. It can create a game loving community on campus which could generate interest in graphic designing among students to some extent. A participant who wished to remain anonymous stated that gaming tournaments could be a great way to get

NEIU recognized on a broader level and is also an amazing fundraising idea for a noble cause. The gaming tournament can also direct local media attention to NEIU, as well.

Gaming can't be done in computer labs for obvious reasons and there are fewer options available on campus for students to relieve the stress of studies on campus. Most universities have their own gaming areas and tournaments held on their campuses.

Student Trustee, Winston Rysdahl, showed his willingness to help student government's Student Life to proposition the board for the establishment of a gaming area, but said that the board might not agree with him and the senate on the grounds of a gaming area being too costly to build, as well as, not very educational for students.