Upcoming casino night supports United Way funds
Michelle Conty

Opinion Editor

Casino Night will have two new additions this year with bingo and blackjack.

 This year we are going to have bingo as an alternative for those who aren t fond of card games,  said Adam Griffin, residence hall director and the Student Senate adviser.

Another change to Casino Night is the removal of an admission fee; instead, $1 buys $10 worth of chips.

 We want to keep the event relatively cheap for the students,  he said.

Bordertown Bingo donated the bingo cards.

Last year the Senate rented blackjack tables, but this year it built them.

 Having tables of our own will cut down on cost and will allow us to donate more to United Way,  he said.

 I was very interested in Casino Night,  said Shawna Nelson, Casino Night committee chair.  It seemed like a real fun thing to do. 

More than 200 prizes have been donated by area businesses including food gift certificates and oil changes, Nelson said.

 We have a lot of food gift certificates, which is great because college students love food,  she said.

Wireless Planet donated a bag of cellular phone accessories and Planet Car-Fi donated T-shirts.

 That night (Casino Night) the student senators and SAs will deal the cards and run the games and prize table,  Griffin said.

 Many organizations such as the Red Cross couldn t survive without contributions from the United Way,  said Darren Fullerton, director of campus recreation and past chair of the local American Red Cross.

Proceeds from the United Way benefit the Community Clinic, Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Missouri, the Joplin Family Y, and Children s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.

 Money is allocated (to Children s Mercy) based on the number of children from Jasper county who are seen there,  Fullerton said.

All proceeds from Casino Night benefit the United Way. The benefit will be held Wednesday on the third floor of the Billingsly Student Center.