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Mae Smith Hall, Neely Hall and the Triads are alive with the 2,000 visiting high schoolers, all here for the largest Christ in Youth summer conference that SIU has seen in the past seven years it has played host to the program.
One of 22 summer conferences nationwide, this year's program, themed "To Live," got underway at around noon Monday when the students arrived and will come to a temporary rest on Saturday morning when the students leave.
But on the following Monday, 2,000 more will arrive, the same conference will run again, and it will all happen once more during the following week, for a total of three sessions.
James Hauser, a 27-year-old from Salem, is a student minister in the program who has been involved for more than 10 years. He said this is the third year attending Christ in Youth at SIU.
"I believe this is the best facility for them, just because of the food, the dorms, the organization, the campus administration and the Recreational Center," he said. "We really like the Recreational Center.
"Christ in Youth is a great place for students to come and experience Jesus Christ and the difference he can make in their lives."
Since Monday, the Student Center has been feeding 2,000 students in an hour, a lunch break sandwiched between the many workshops that the visitors are attending. The students also attend two large general sessions in the SIU Arena each day.
The large group sessions during the following two weeks will take place in Shryock.
Lana Campbell, conference coordinator in the Division of Continuing Education, said sponsoring the conference is an excellent recruitment tool for SIU. Students come from all over the country and are given the opportunity to experience a taste of life on campus.
"It's really a joint effort between a lot of different units on campus," Campbell said. "We've received a great deal of cooperation."
Campbell also said that the program sees a high rate of return in churches, and that there is a 1:10 ratio of chaperones to students. Chaperones also bring their children sometimes, so there are occasionally younger kids running around as well. The staff of about 40 people remains the same throughout the conferences.
"It's a very hectic three weeks," Campbell said, "but very positive in a lot of ways."
Robin Sigars has been the director of conferences for Christ in Youth for the past 13 years and has been involved for 15 years total. At first, he worked voluntarily and now is paid to do his job. He is from Webb City, Mo., which is close to Christ in Youth's headquarters in Joplin, Mo.
"It's a very intense spiritual week, with a very Christian emphasis," he said.
Sigars said that the students are studying the book of Philippians out of the New Testament. They are given 25 elective classes to choose from, some of which are taught by professors who have volunteered.
He said that during the Arena sessions, the students are involved in a lot of high-power worship activities including performances by The Brian Sites Band, a group that specializes in contributing to events like this.
Sigars also said that there are 65 individual youth groups involved, and each one does a small group meeting in the morning and at night.
"It's going great; very smooth," Sigars said, "The student Center is doing a great job in feeding them; people treat us well. The kids love it here."
"We're just trying to get them to have a closer walk with God."
This is the third summer of Christ in Youth for Carly McNeff, a 16-year-old from Greenwood, Ind.
"I really like it because it's a different setting from your normal church," she said, "You get to meet a lot of new people and you get to have different teachers who share different perspectives. You get to interact with other kids your age who are all here for the same reason."
Seventeen-year-old Anna Bradley, also from Greenwood, is here for the first time.
"I like the worship because people come from all over the country," she said. "It puts you in awe."
"Free time is fun, too," she noted with a laugh.
McNeff and Bradley also agreed that they really like Mae Smith, where they are staying for the week.
Joel Greene, a 21-year-old senior at Gray Lakes Christian College in Michigan, said he is here representing his school and teaching the high school students classes such as "Archeology in the Bible" and a prayer course called "When Teens Pray."
Originally from Tarpon Springs, Fla., this is Greene's fifth year attending Christ in Youth and his second year as a leader.
"It's a lot of fun," he said. "Students really get to grow with God and grow together. The program helps them stay strong throughout the school year, and helps them stand up for their faith."
Alex Dayvolt, a 16-year-old from Newburg, Ind., is attending Christ in Youth for the second time.
"I like it a lot," he said, "You can make it whatever you want it to be. It can be a life-changing experience, or fun with your friends. I found it to be a life-changing experience."
