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One hundred and eighty subs, 162 large pizzas and more than a thousand tacos may seem like an overwhelming amount of food. However, these were just a few items provided to students at last year's Saluki Finals Finish.
This year's Saluki Finals Finish will take place at the Recreation Center from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday and will continue through Tuesday. Fruit, soda, Gatorade and juice will be given away as well as a main item each night such as pizza, subs or tacos. Aside from free food, various professors will have study sessions at the Recreation Center during these times.
"We literally give away a ton of food and beverages," said Gary Tisdale, the coordinator of marketing and publicity at the Recreation Center. "The students do not have to pay for anything. The only thing they have to do is stand in line."
Approximately 3,000 students attend each year over the three-day period. Faculty and staff members volunteer to work two-hours shifts at the event, and individual SIUC colleges provide funding.
Jack Parker, the dean of the College of Science, has volunteered to help with the event since it first started in 1999.
"I can't think of a better place for students to take a break from studying than the Recreation Center," Parker said.
Local food suppliers, stores and restaurants provide the center with discounts because of the amount of food that is ordered. The food arrives in shifts throughout the night to ensure freshness.
Consideration is also made for students who are vegetarians, so meatless subs and pizza will be available.
"We keep in mind people who are vegetarians," Tisdale said. "Taco night is more difficult, but fruits and vegetables are always available."
Tisdale said the event was started at SIUC five years ago after faculty and staff members attended a conference where they heard the idea from representatives at another university.
Anita Hutton, a coordinator at the College of Liberal Arts, has also been volunteering since the program began and said the event is a good way for students to receive help from professors or teacher's assistants in a relaxed setting.
"It is a great steam release because everyone is stressed," Hutton said. "It is a way to just relax and breath for a while before finals."
