Elvis has left the building along with Winter Cruise 2004.
Students, staff and faculty taking excursions to D.P. Culp Center Wednesday surfaced from the 12th annual Winter Cruise with water, food, balloons, candy, pens, sand sculptures, cotton candy, necklaces and bracelets and, generally, smiles.
About 36 organizations were present with different types of booths crowding the three floors of the Culp Center.
Each booth, in its own way, went along with the ETSU Goes Hollywood theme of this year’s cruise.
“The booths were cool, there were some really good ideas,” said junior Kimberly Bublat, a staff programmer with University Productions, the event sponsor.
The Culp Center was filled with about a hundred Hollywood-hungry students at any given time during the day, Bublat said.
“There were a little more than 1,000 students this year,” she said.
Organizations use Winter Cruise to give out information and recruit new members in a fun setting.
“The general idea is to get members, but it doesn’t always work,” said senior Patrick Dunkin of University Productions.
“Winter Cruise is good for people to get to know who you are.”
While the key purpose is for organizations to get information about their programs to students, UP programmer senior Nancy Padgett said, Winter Cruise is also for students to have a good time.
Most students said that they just stumbled upon Winter Cruise, but found that it was fun. “I was going to check my mail and there it was,” said freshman Meaghan Lilly.
To attract students to their information, most organizations lured students with treats and giveaways – Hollywood-style.
From sunglasses handed out by Career Placement to Starburst candy from the Society of Professional Journalists, it seemed that there was something for most students.
“Everyone wants to know where the beads come from, then the movies,” freshman Mary Goff said. “We tell them University Productions.”
Entertainment and lots of food were also present at Winter Cruise.
“The only thing better than free food is good free food,” said student Ashleigh Clouse.
Entertainment included a Elvis impersonator (with his two Blues Brothers-like bodyguards) and two caricature artists.
Both artists had long lines of people waiting to be sketched and a gathering of students watching the action.
“I think Winter Cruise was extremely successful this year,” Bublat said Wednesday afternoon.
Some students said that Winter Cruise was especially fun this year because of the glitzy Hollywood theme.
“I like the theme better this year,” junior Jenn Oliver said. “Stuff like this is what makes college fun.”
University Productions next event is the ETSU Comedy Show Tuesday Feb.10 at 7 p.m. in the D.P. Culp Center.
Admission is free to ETSU students and faculty with ID and $5 for community members.

Author