Sign part of Amber alert

Travelers may now view advertisements and messages on a state-of-the-art, two-sided digital sign displaying the Sacramento State logo off Highway 50, south of the campus.

The sign went into operation on Aug. 5.

University Enterprises, Inc. entered a commercial partnership with Clear Channel Outdoors to create the sign. The sign promotes the University’s educational, social and community programs, while generating revenue.

The sign will be a part in the California Amber Alert Program system.

“The standout piece is designed to compliment the University logo and campus,” said University Enterprises marketing director David Levy.

The 48-foot wide message board will display images at a rate of eight messages every 64 seconds using the latest LED technology.

Clear Channel Outdoors is funding construction, maintenance and operational costs for the sign through a 25-year term lease agreement with UEI.

“This is a very positive thing because it didn’t cost the university a penny,” Levy said.

The university will receive a one-time payment of $750,000 from Clear Channel, of which $300,000 will be used to help faculty travel to academic conferences and to conduct research.

UEI will use the remaining $450,000 to provide services that cannot be subsidized by public funds.

President Alexander Gonzales is organizing a committee to decide how the university will allocate the revenue.

Coin-operated games removed

As of yesterday, gamers may play Xbox 360, Playstation 3 or Nintendo Wii on the newly installed Samsung video consoles in the University Union game room.

The arcade style game machines in the game room were removed and replaced with eight 46-inch screen TVs.

The game room offers six Xbox 360s, five Playstation 3s and one Nintendo Wii.

Students must pay five dollars an hour using their Sacramento State OneCard in order to play any of the game systems.

Sanchez said the game room is updated to some extent every semester to keep students interested in using it.

Although Sanchez expects students to positively view the game room’s upgrade, some students may miss the former arcades.

“I think the new games systems are a great idea, but they should have kept the old-school games as well,” said junior graphic design major Zack Proctor.

Evelyn Bigelyaizen can be reached at [email protected]