If you caught MTV on New Year's Eve at the Palladium, then you also saw a preview of the laser light special effects that will highlight Club Coca-Cola at UB's triple gym in Alumni Arena Thursday night from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Sponsored by Reebok and Coca-Cola, Club Coca-Cola is a touring dance party that travels all over the country to college campuses and other special events. Twenty percent of all profits go to the "Join the World of Winners" outreach campaign that works at doubling the amount of participating athletes and volunteers at the Special Olympics.
At UB, the Division of Student Affairs is sponsoring the dance party by footing the entire bill and leaving the admission free for UB students. The party is essentially a welcome back to UB party for returning students and a welcoming party for incoming freshmen and transfer students.
The Office of Student Life, Schussmeisters Ski Club and the Inter-Greek Council are also helping to sponsor the party. According to Cindy Repicci, Homecoming Queen and committee chair for Club Coca-Cola, it is open to everyone.
"There will be a lot of student organizations there," she said. "It's a good opportunity for freshmen and transfers. All clubs are allowed to wear their sweatshirts (with their names on them)."
Club Coca-Cola is being billed as a dry rush event for all Greeks, but Repicci emphasized that it is no exclusive to the Greek system and prospective members. Schussmeisters will be in attendance and all other students at the University are encouraged to attend.
She added that it is a good opportunity for younger, underage students to meet more people that they may have missed by not being able to go out to the bars. Also, for students who live in the dorms, buses will be provided from the Main Street, Ellicott and Governors dorms.
But wait, there's more
In addition to the fun students can enjoy from the music and other students there, prizes will be raffled off. Gift certificates for Reebok sneakers and t-shirts, as well as a VCR, are just some of the prizes being offered.
Michael D'Andrea, of the Brian Winthrop International, the firm that produces Club Coca-Cola, explained that the dance has been extremely popular at college campuses and military bases, and that it even helped entertain the U.S. Olympic team in 1988.
"It's a party and a benefit," he explained. "It's one heck of a good time, too. People said they didn't believe that they could have such a good time."
Besides providing lights for MTV on New Year's Eve, Club Coca-Cola has been to Villanova three years in a row, to West Point, and had 17,000 participants at the Super Dome in New Orleans. They have also helped out at parties for the Mayflower Madam.
Some of the highlights of the dance include a 200 square foot video screen that will show videos throughout the evening. Also, disc jockey Jim Kennedy will play music requests. Lighting special effects include a super strobe light, a moonflower and a "cyclorama."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
