Foster Student Government invites students to block party with food, music

If a break from studying from exams is necessary this weekend, the Foster/McNutt Spring Block Party can be a scapegoat.\n"Students are stressed out, it's close to finals and people aren't going to get a break until after exams," said freshman Ben Siebert, vice president of programming at Foster student government. "This is something to give back to the \nstudents." \nThe Foster Residence Center Student Government, in collaboration with the McNutt Student Government, will sponsor an all-day spring block party festival starting at 10 a.m. Saturday outside the Foster Quadrangle in the circle drive. The event, which bears the tag line, "I Want To Rock," will feature free food, live music, late-night movie screenings, raffle prize give-a-ways and a number of other games and activities for students to put their minds at ease, Siebert said.\n"It's a fully student-run event that serves to bring together people on campus," said Foster Graduate Supervisor D.J. Hilley. "It's a good way for the campus to get together and enjoy music and food." \nThis year, because of a merge with the McNutt Student Government and raffle contributions from various local businesses and establishments, the annual event will have more to offer, including a rock-climbing wall, free gift certificate give-a-ways from local businesses and a diverse group of musical acts.\n"There is going to be so much for students to do," Siebert said. "You can just sit and listen to music or just participate in the many activities."\nFreshman Wyatt Legrand, a McNutt resident and guitarist for The Red Label, one of the rock bands to be featured at the event, said the block party is a good way for students to hear a diverse array of local bands, many of which normally play in 21 or older bar settings.\n"If you want to get your music out there, the best way to do it is through students," Legrand said. "I think our music is really good rock 'n' roll that everybody likes and never gets old. Everyone appreciates what sounds good."\nIn addition to The Red Label, the block party will feature the bands AutoVaughn and Metal in the Microwave, as well as singer/songwriter Michael Kelsey, all of whom will perform at various times throughout the day.\n"I think the whole music aspect will bring in a lot more people," Legrand said. "I don't think you can go wrong whenever there are so many students and many of them are\ninto music."\nIn addition to the music and other activities, a portion of all raffle and game proceeds will go toward fundraising for the Katie Jerome Cancer Foundation and the Middle Way House, two local assistance and support organizations.\n"I think it's important that (the students) are celebrating and creating something fun for the students but are also doing something good with their money," Hilley said. "It's a good part of giving back to the community."\nThe event is free to all students and will run from 10 a.m. until sundown outside Foster and then will move to McNutt until midnight, where there will be film screenings. \n"We just hope people have a good time," Siebert said. "The overall goal is for it to be a success. Everyone has put so much into it"