Students go 'all in' at Union poker tournament

With the nationwide poker craze having already swept through UB's dorms and apartments, students got to gamble in the heart of North Campus last Thursday as almost 300 students cashed in at UB's first annual Texas Hold 'Em tournament in the Student Union lobby.

Over a dozen poker tables set up in the lobby were completely filled throughout the afternoon with eight students and one dealer at each table. The tournament was played with fake money and offered raffle tickets as prizes, with a chance to win different name-brand poker equipment.

"This is open to all students. Technically it's only for undergrads, but we haven't turned anyone away yet," said Kara Bates, a senior management major and member of the Student Programming Board. "We just want everyone to show up and enjoy themselves; the more the merrier."

Bates said the tournament had a dual purpose: to play poker and to meet new people.

"There's a lot of students that just go home or back to their dorms everyday," Bates said. "Having something here that's open to everyone helps students meet people and get more involved on campus."

Bates also took the opportunity to promote another event. "Next week we're having beach volleyball summer in the Union," Bates said. "We're even bringing in sand."

Most participants and passers-by seemed excited to see such a large poker game right in the middle of the Student Union.

"It's awesome that anyone can come over and do what they want in this. It's all free and that's the best part of it," said Jeremy Drumm, a freshman mechanical engineering major. "I'm actually skipping my World Civilization recitation to do this."

Some participating students, however, said they felt the tournament was too amateur and didn't feel like the real deal.

"I think I would have much more fun if there were more regulations," said Travis Allen, a sophomore physics major.

Thursday's poker tournament was the first in a series of events that student-programming officials said they hope will get students more involved in campus activities.

"We have an entire calendar of events for this semester," said Rachel Lerner, a second year graduate student and supervisor of the Student Programming Board. "It includes a 'Sex in the City' marathon, a mechanical bull, and a Velcro wall. We do this to encourage student involvement in UB's campus life."

The board is also planning to host a poetry slam series, a beach volleyball tournament, and a photo-making memory event.

"It's the students on the board that have put all this together," Lerner said. "They come up with these events and make them happen."