As students entered the University Union from every entrance on Sept. 7, they were instantly greeted by game card-hawking students and handed game cards to participate in Phlagleblast.

Plagleblast, an annual event, aims to make students more aware of the union, with the prospect of winning a number of prizes ranging from an Apple iPod Nano and a Nokia 6010 Mobile Phone to aroundtrip airfare to London.

Students took their cards to each location and got a hole punched in each particular square, and then entered the cards into the drawing.

“I think it’s cool, because otherwise I wouldn’t know these places were there,” said Amanda Ayala, a senior math major. “Some of them I’ve seen, but, you know, with doing homework and going from class to class, it’s not like I ever stop and say, ‘Hey, what do you do here?'”

The game cards feature 21 squares with the names of many sections of the Union, including the Music Listening Room, the Student Health Connection, the Games Room and Peak Adventures.

“I learned that the bike shop could even give me a hand-cycle bike, I didn’t know they had those for people who are in wheelchairs,” Ayala said. “I also didn’t know we had a music listening room, and I didn’t know we had a gallery. -And I’m only halfway done.”

It was a good opportunity for students and staff alike.

Students learned about all of the things that they might never have discovered, and the representatives from the different departments were glad that students had a chance to find them.

“It’s just nice to be here and let students know about services not only in the Union because we’re also located on the second floor of the Health Center, which is on the other side of campus and hard to find,” said Stacy Sinz, the office manager for psychological counseling.

“It’s nice to let the students know about us, especially new students,” Sinz said. “A lot of people don’t realize that we’re there, and that we’re free, and that we also have licensed psychologists.”

“It’s really neat, and it gives new students the opportunity to see what resources they have available at their school,” said Erika Alfaro, a sophomore nursing major.

Tom Roberts can be reached at [email protected]