Unofficial 2013: Heard Around Campus

“I’m kind of excited for unofficial. People in high school said I kind of look like a leprechaun, and I found out (about) Unofficial here so I’m like, I might as well do it. This is my third time celebrating Unofficial. Tonight we are going to go to a restaurant and walk down Green Street and maybe go to the Quad.”

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Earn Saenmuk

Contributing Writer

Friday afternoon at the Ikenberry Commons featured some people dressed in green, but little activity. 

Jocelyn Davis, sophomore in LAS, said she did not see anything out of the ordinary during her classes, but did see people drinking on Green Street when she went for lunch.

“There’s a lot of people there,” she said. “It was interesting.”

Officer Benjamin Wood, of the University Police Department, said he had not seen anything as of yet, which he said might be due to the cold weather. He said last year, although it was raining, there were many more students during the afternoon. 

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By Eleanor Black

Contributing Writer

During the late afternoon Friday, most students waiting to enter the bars around campus, like KAMS and Firehaus, had an attitude of “go with the flow” in regards to their Unofficial plans. The visit to the bars was not the first celebration of the day for many students. Faith McCullough, for example, a junior at the University, started drinking at 9 a.m.

“Tonight I’m planning on going to the Clark Bar with a lot of people,” she said. “Other than that, it’s wherever the wind takes me.”

Non-University students came to campus for the weekend to partake in the event. Julie Fouts, a senior at DePaul University, chose this weekend to visit her friends on campus.

“I wanted to visit U of I, and now seemed like a good time,” she said. “There are lots of people out having fun. I was hoping for better weather though.” 

Some University seniors said they might even return after graduation to celebrate Unofficial next year. 

“I woke up at 7 this morning, and I’m just going to keep going,” said Lauren McCoy, senior in LAS. “If our friend lives here next year, we’ll probably visit.”

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By Brittany Gibson and Megan Vasiliadis

Contributing Writers

Green Street on Unofficial served as an opportunity for organizations to raise money and spread their individual messages across campus. 

”We’re encouraging people to be safe and take care of themselves and protect themselves on this day,” said Sara Salmon, senior in LAS and president registered student organization The Sexual Health Peers. Her organization handed out free Kool-Aid and free condoms to students passing by. 

Intervarsity Christian Fellowship handed out ”free water” to people on Green Street. Sarah Timberlake, member of ICF and freshman in FAA, said that when she offered people free water, some responses included, “I’m trying to quit,” and “I don’t drink.” 

The National Residence Housing Honorary organization was on Green Street, as well. Members collected money for Saint Baldrick’s Foundation. The money for the charity goes toward childhood cancer research.

Illini Student Musicals, also a registered student organization, sold chocolate covered pretzels to raise money for its upcoming musical, “Little Shop of Horrors.” The students’ main focus was selling the treat, but they urged those passing by to attend the performance on March 28.

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By Tyler Davis

Staff Writer

Students on Green Street during Unofficial found themselves in a flurry of activity and noise.

Jessica Milaneses and Viral Patel, both freshmen in DGS, were soliciting for donations on the corner of Fifth and Green streets in the name of St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which is dedicated to curing childhood cancer.

“Today there’s especially a lot of people out on Green Street, so we figured it’s a great time to try to get people to donate,” Patel said.

Other students took it upon themselves to provide positive influences for their peers involved in Unofficial.

Matthew Jackson, freshman in Engineering and member of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, was offering students water.

“We’re out here to hopefully help people drink less alcohol today on Unofficial, so we’re passing out free water,” Jackson said. “Hopefully they’ll stay safe as well.”

Other students were out to enjoy the day’s festivities, such as Becky Zborowski, senior in LAS, and Catie Hoover, visiting from Columbia College in Chicago. Zborowski said they woke up around 8 a.m. to start drinking and were headed to a friend’s house.

“We’re just going where the wind blows us, we don’t have any plans right now,” Zborowski said.

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“This is pretty exciting. I wouldn’t have come if I wasn’t 21. I wanted to visit U of I, and now seemed like a good time. … There are lots of people out having fun. I was hoping for nicer weather though.”

-Julie Fouts, senior at DePaul University

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“At least you caught me when I’m sober. Tonight, I don’t know, I’ll just see where the night takes me for the most part.”

-Bide Akande, graduate student

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Emma Weissmann

Staff Writer

Students and visitors perusing Green Street noticed an overall lack of activity during the late morning on Friday.

Both Kevin Yee, 25, and Jeff Bishop, 25, are University alumni who commented that the street was a lot emptier than they remembered it to be in years past.

“When I was here, the streets were a lot more crowded,” Yee said. “If I went here now, I’d be like, ‘Oh it’s a regular school day.’”

Bishop agreed and said that when he was a student, the streets were normally so packed with people that it was hard to get through.

“You couldn’t walk,” Bishop said.

For Jamie Friedman, junior in LAS, the lack of activity was not a problem. She chose to spend Friday morning studying in the Starbucks on Green Street for a noon exam.

“I enjoyed studying here,” Friedman said. ”We wanted to go somewhere early, before things got crazy. It’s a nice study break to people watch, but then I have no problem getting back to studying.”

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By Chrissy Pawlowski

Staff Writer

Kevin Yee, 25, University alumnus, said he planned to spend Friday afternoon at Legends Bar and Grill, 522 E. Green St., after having celebrated in apartments in the morning.

“When I was here, we went to Legends a lot,” Yee said. “Legends, Brothers — those were our main bars.”

Jordan Belden, senior at McKendree University, said she also plans to take full advantage of being of legal drinking age.

“This is my sixth Unofficial, so my goal is to make it to the bars,” Belden said.

However, Allie Wroble, sophomore in LAS, said finding a place to spend the day is not as easy for those under the age of 21. She said she will be hanging out with friends and apartment hopping. 

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By Henry Dunn

Contributing Writer

Massod Haque, junior in LAS, said he got a lot of attention when he wore his mint green tuxedo to his late morning exam.  

“I came across this mint green tuxedo a couple years back,” Haque said a couple minutes before his exam. “I wore it freshman year on Unofficial, and since then, it’s just what I wear on Unofficial.”  

Amy Budz, sophomore in Education, and Charles Price, senior in LAS, said they took advantage of the inebriated state of students by selling pancakes to benefit their charity, St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

“We knew there were going to be a lot of people out,” Price said.  

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By Yele Ajayi

Staff Writer

The streets were flooded with excitement on Green Street in celebration of Unofficial. Several students crowded around the sidewalks taking pictures, dancing and singing for the festivities.

“Unofficial is important because it’s like a culture of the school,”  said Vicente Lugo, freshman in DGS. “Everyone has to do it.”

Some students found that not planning for Unofficial weeks ahead helps make better memories.

“As long as you don’t have plans on Unofficial, you’ll have a good time,” said Michael Rotlar, senior in LAS. “Honestly, I’m just trying to meet up with my friends and have a good time.”

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“Last year I didn’t celebrate. This is my first year. I have class, so we wanted to do something before 9.”

-Allie Wroble, sophomore in LAS

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“It’s fun to see compared to Iowa because it’s kind of like our tailgate in a way. We wake up early and have a good time all throughout the day, everyone is so festive.”

-Jenna Jeffery, senior in business at the University of Iowa

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“We had some breakfast at green balcs with some jello shots, since we are of age and allowed to drink. We’re all seniors. We’re kind of sad, but it’s our last year to celebrate.”

-Anna Mazo, senior in ACES

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“I’m going to class not hammered because there’s just a lot of ways to get caught. It’s just not a good idea. And I don’t think I could be drunk all day….You got to save your alcohol for later.”

-Morgan Scott, junior in LAS

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“Growing up I was super Irish. St. Patrick’s Day is my favorite thing so being here is really fun to see everyone taking pride in my culture.”

-Colleen Manser, senior in LAS at Eastern University

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“I cracked open my first beer in the shower this morning. I couldn’t resist. I’m 26. I’ll be here until I die.”

-DJ Clifford, graduate of DePaul University

“When I was here, the streets were a lot more crowded. If I went here now, I’d be like, ‘Oh it’s a regular school day.’”

-Kevin Yee, University alumnus

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“Today I’m drinking moderately and being a responsible adult. This is my fifth unofficial. I’m in American flag shorts and I’m freezing cold.”

-Matt Paarlberg, senior in aviation

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“This year I’m apart of an organization and we’re using this day to fundraise for our organization. We’re hoping to recruit people. This is my first time at Unofficial.”

-Vanessa Fortenberry, junior in LAS