In celebration of the 90th anniversary of The University of Memphis, the Student Activities Council and the President’s Office are hosting Extravaganza 90.
Set for March 27, the event will include a fair with student-run booths depicting The University throughout the decades.
“We’re trying to spice it up a little bit,” said Kate Hill, SAC vice president for programming and senior nursing major at The U of M. “This event can be a lot of fun. After all, it’s the ninetieth anniversary of our school.”
The fair will begin in front of Scates Hall and loop around the end of the Student Plaza.
Student groups interested in running a booth must submit their applications and a sketch and description of the booth by Monday, March 3 at 4 p.m. to room 425 in the University Center.
Hill said there will be bands providing music beginning at 3 p.m., and SAC is working to bring in other attractions such as carnival rides and jugglers. There will also be students wearing period costumes borrowed from the Theatre Department to add to the reminiscent atmosphere.
“The Rudi Scheidt School of Music has put together a commemorative CD of music performed by U of M faculty and students that will be available the day of the fair,” said Marty Alberg, executive assistant to the president.
Students will be able to purchase the CD, “Ninety Years of Making Music in Memphis,” for a donation to the music foundation.
The event will be held from 3 to 5 p.m., including the dedication of the Student Tower, Alumni Bricks and the V. Lane Rawlins University Services Court Building and Clock Tower at 4:30 p.m.
The new U of M seal will also be presented during the festivities.
The anniversary celebration will continue Friday, March 28 at 2 p.m., when the annual faculty convocation will take place and all faculty awards will be presented.
The Tennessee Board of Regents will be meeting on The U of M campus during the two days’ celebration, according to Alberg, and some will even march with the faculty during convocation.
“We wanted to invite the TBR to celebrate our ninetieth anniversary with the students and to involve them in the life of The University and the students,” Alberg said.
Alberg said she thinks the school’s anniversary is important, and she hopes students will attend the event.
“Ninety years is a long life,” she said. “It’s pretty significant. This celebration is to help us focus on why we’re here and what we do.”
The fair booths are available to any groups of students and registered student organizations who want to be involved in Extravaganza 90 and can come up with activities or foods from any past eras of The U of M.
Some suggestions for booths include a cake walk, a dunking booth, bobbing for apples, dart games, pie throws, art sales, photo booths and foods such as candy apples, lemonade, cakes and soft drinks. Food booths may not serve any foods that must be heated, and Tiger catering will be able to provide assistance to any groups who need help finding suppliers of food.
Throughout the afternoon, students attending the fair will be able to obtain tickets from all of the booths to add to drawings for prizes, with each one exceeding the value of the last.
There will also be a prize awarded to the group with the best booth at the fair.
Only Registered Student Organizations may charge students to participate in their booth’s activities, using the fair as a fundraiser, but SAC has requested that the maximum fee be kept at $1.50 per activity or food item.
