Vol. 19, No. 22

March 2, 2000

 ‘Student Center Squares’ offers prizes, facts and fun

How good is your knowledge of history, geography, television and UD trivia? On Feb. 21, the perfect place to find out was the Scrounge in the Perkins Student Center, where students watched a live performance of Student Center Squares, while the show was broadcast across the campus on SLTV 49. Based on the popular TV game show Hollywood Squares, the UD version gives members of registered student organizations a chance to match their wits and knowledge with a nine-member panel of UD administrators, from Student Centers activities and programs and operations offices plus guests from other units that interact with student groups. For the second round of the game for the 1999-2000 academic year, the Scrounge boasted a full house of patrons eating hamburgers, drinking coffee, chatting with friends or just catching up on some reading. With the lights glaring and cameras rolling, the action began as host Scott Mason, student centers, got things moving in the first match, which was won by the Resident Student Association (RSA). RSA took the match 2-0 by successfully accepting or challenging some of the panel’s answers to UD trivia questions, such as naming the year the first ice arena was built. If your answer is 1970, you are correct. Another UD question that challenged the collective knowledge of contestants and panel was naming the year when the Center for Black Culture first opened its doors. Although a panel member answered 1985, the correct year was the nation’s bicentennial year, 1976. The second match went to the Hispanic Student Organization (HOLA), as it swept two games from the Young Americans for Freedom. During the match, the panel was questioned about the name of the UD’s main administration building before it became Hullihen Hall. The correct answer is University Hall. The next question was easy for long-time Newark residents who know that Rainbow Records began on Elkton Road, before moving to Main Street. Both the panel and the students agreed that the basement area of the Perkins Student Center that now houses the Bacchus Theatre was once home to a bowling alley. In the third match, Vocal Point swept Gamma Sigma Sigma 2-0 with contestants trying to guess the correct year (1957) the first computer arrived on campus. Student singing organizations continued their hot streak on Student Center Squares as the Golden Blues took two games and the match from Phi Sigma Pi in the nightcap. Contestants and panelists could not agree on the number of residence halls (65) on campus, and they also had trouble properly identifying the python as the world’s longest snake. Mason, who clearly relishes his role as host, said he believes the show is a good way for members of the UD community to meet students from some of the 48 registered student organizations and 180 student clubs on the campus. He said he also likes the way Student Center Squares gives students and administrators a chance to get to know each other outside the office. “I think it’s fun,” Mason said. “Some nights it’s more competitive, but it still gives students and administrators a chance to come together on even ground.” The game got started about five years ago when Mason came up with a UD version of the network show. After a brief hiatus when the network version was off the air, Mason revived Student Center Squares when its network version enjoyed a rebirth of popularity under its new host, Whoopi Goldberg. Student Center Squares, which can be seen live on SLTV 49, has been popular with UD students, as well as students visiting from other campuses. “Students like it,” Mason said. “Students coming through on tours of UD enjoyed the game so much that they decided to start similar versions on their home campuses.” Other UD game shows modeled after successful network shows include Organizational Feud, modeled after the long-running Family Feud and a UD version of Jeopardy. A campus version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire may be coming to the Scrounge, but Mason would not give “his final answer” on that one. The winning organizations of the February matches each received a $25 gift certificate for the UD Copy Center, and the semi-final winner of the show scheduled April 10 will get $100 credited to its organizational accounts. Joining the second round winners are December competition winners WVUD, Operation Smile, Student Labor Action Committee, Students Advocating for Gender Equality, V8, National Resident Hall Honorary, Rubber Chickens, LGBSU, COCO and Mortar Board. Prizes for the final match on May 1 include $500 for first place, $300 for second place and $100 for third place. Mason noted that the competition should definitely heat up during the next two matches as the countdown to first place begins. “I encourage people to come out and watch the next two rounds,” Mason said. “I think they will enjoy what they see.” –Jerry Rhodes Upcoming shows The next two performances of Student Center Squares are scheduled at 6:30 p.m., Mondays, April 10 and May 1, in the Scrounge of the Perkins Student Center. For information, call 831-2428.