Designed to have a positive impact in mind for students and faculty, historic designer Alden B. Dow Associates Inc., wanted a place where campus advertisement and messages can be seen, so he built two showcases inside of the Student Center Building (SCB).
The free-to-rent showcases are located on the first floor of the SCB across from Barnes and Nibbles. With the four visible glass cases, everyone who walks by can see what organizations are advertising.
Student organizations display everything from upcoming events to controversial topics and issues.
“Over time, the showcases have went from displaying and or advertising upcoming events to expressing points of views,” said Student Center Director Michael Bowen. “The showcases can not show defamatory against people or culture.”
Organizations’ displays cannot be removed without violating the group’s civil rights, according to the University archives on the SCB.
“When organizations need a showcase we don’t prejudge their displays,” Bowen said.
Most of the time the showcases are booked and depending on the time of year there may be a waiting list for a spot.
“At the beginning and the end of the semesters the showcases are booked. Showcases are only closed during Spring Break and summer,” said Jessica Brown, Activities Coordinator.
“The use of university showcases shall be consistent with the freedom and responsibilities of a university community in a free society. Exhibits may reflect the wide variety of the community’s interests and concerns, as well as the open examination and advocacy of ideas”.
There are several reservation procedures and guidelines all organizations must follow in order to use the showcase. Showcases may be reserved up to four weeks in advance and The Dean of Students Office has the right to make changes to the policy for special event fund programs and theme week activities.
Showcases can only be reserved for one-week periods from 12:00 p.m. Monday through the next Monday. Displays must be down by 10:00 a.m. If there is a waiting list, organizations are limited to one showcase a month, due to the limited space.
If any student organization is using the showcase and they want to advertise in another language, it is mandatory the English language be present on the display as well, so any culture can comprehend the signs and fliers.
The showcases on the first floor are also limited to recognized organizations and the Grosberg Religious Center. If a showcase display isn’t occupied by Tuesday at noon, it’s open and other organizations may make reservations for that showcase.
If an organization is late taking their material down from the showcase and the SCB have to clean up the material, that organization will be assessed a labor fee.
Organizations that have used the showcases all have different thoughts and opinions about the showcase rules, regulations and advertisement time.
“The registration rules are good,” said Janae’ King, President, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. “I think advertising in the showcase for one week should give an organization time to get students’ attention.”
“There are hundreds of organizations on campus; one week allows each organization an opportunity to advertise their program. We advertise in the showcase the week of our programs. Before the week, we have a chapter website and use fliers to begin getting the word out.”
Besides getting word out for events in the showcase, Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity also advertises their functions by other means. The one-week rule is just not enough time for them.
“We have other advertisement going on such as hanging fliers campus, facebook events, info tables in the student center, etc,” said Broc Setty, Vice- President, Pi Kappa Fraternity.
“If I could, I would have a showcase every week, every month. We can only reserve one showcase a month or every 30 days in advance. It should be at least two weeks.”
The organizations can have banners to help with their advertisement with a two-week deadline. Banners may be no longer than eight feet across and no longer than seven feet, top to bottom.
“We do designs all the time for the showcases upstairs,” said Jose Payan, Graphics Student Assistant. “We do charge organizations, but we only charge for labor. We can design signs for as low as $20.”
Banners help bring out the advertising in the showcases with its colorful letters and designs and it’s also a way to intrigue students.
“The showcase is a good way in letting the entire student body know what is going on with our organization. I know that attendance is always great at our programs with the aid of the showcase,” King said.
Setty said the location of the showcases isn’t all that great. It's between two doors and such a small compact area. At times it is hard to stop and look at the showcase due to the high volume of students entering and leaving the SCB.
At this time, the student organizations occupying the showcases are Alpha Phi Omega National Co-Ed Service Fraternity advertising their Feed the Pig week, Kappa Delta encouraging Prevent Child Abuse America Shamrock Event 09, and Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity showing off their Fraternity Achievements.
The second floor showcases located across from the Leadership Hall of Fame, displays Dean of Student Office (DOSO) information, Mort Harris Recreation and Fitness Center summer events and Live Green messages.
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