Family Fun Night livens up Student Center

To celebrate his 41st birthday, Bob Goldsmith brought his family to the Student Center Tuesday night.

Accompanied by his wife, daughter, parents and nephews, Goldsmith was one of the 20 people who took part in Tuesday's Family Fun Night. The event provides an opportunity for families to participate in arts and crafts activities.

"He's very family-oriented, and he said we were going to have a family night," said Carol King, Goldsmith's mother.

Kathy Dillard, Student Center marketing and public information director, said because Tuesdays are usually empty at the Student Center, the event is one way to liven up the building and bring in more revenue.

Dillard also said Family Fun Night was not implemented to help ease the $52,000 loss in revenue from ending its tobacco sales in the fall.

Goldsmith, who is expecting his second child with wife Margarita, said they were painting their dream house on a large sheet of paper, while daughter Gabriella, 11, sat nearby painting a sword.

"Painting brings out the creative and child side of us all," King said.

If there was one complaint at the party, King said it came down to the painting fees.

"I think the price is too high," King said. "We had to pay $5 for a sheet of paper."

"I think it should be $5 a family," King said. "It you have a large family, it gets expensive." While some families came to celebrate, others came to relax.

Carbondale resident Kelli Wakefield brought her two children and husband Dexter, an SIUC assistant professor of plant, soil and agricultural systems. Wakefield said she thought it would be good for the family to spend some time together, considering her husband's busy schedule and her nursing job at the Carbondale Clinic.

Wakefield said daughter Kelleigh, 1, and son Dexter, 3, were thrilled when they realized what activity they would be participating in. The family was given a large piece of white paper and several paints to experiment with.

Wakefield also said having a big blank space on their walls was another reason the portrait would be useful.

She described the children's painting efforts as a mixture of using both their paintbrush and fingers.

"It's a little bit of both, whether we like it or not," Wakefield said.

The various colored squiggles and brush strokes from the children gave the father an idea. "It should be called the 'Wakefield abstract,'" he said.

Despite the low turnout, Dillard said the Student Center is not ready to cut the program just yet.

"We're going to give it a couple months and see what's going on," Dillard said. "Everybody's schedule is different; they may not be able to make it every week."

The Family Fun Night, also offered children's painting, a wax hand-sculpting class, a starter genealogy guide and a scrapbook creation activity.

"I really hope that the families and kids enjoy it and continue to come back because those are our future students," Dillard said.

Family Fun Night is every Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Roman Room and other activities will take place in the Student Center Craft Shop.