Indiana State University Newsroom

Indiana State University's Hulman Center will host its sixth annual Sycamore Hoopla Friday and Saturday, Feb. 10 and 11.

Festivities kick off Friday night as the ISU women's basketball team hosts Bradley at 7:05 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. for visitors to view the center's large windows that will be decorated by campus organizations, residence halls, offices and departments. Winners of the decorating contest will be announced during the women's game. Prior to the game, enjoy entertainment provided by the Sycamore Basketball Band and the ISU Sparkettes. There will also be activities just for youngsters - face painting and an autograph session with Miss ISU.

The fourth annual Polar Plunge kicks off the schedule on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. The fundraiser for Special Olympics Indiana will take place on Hulman Center's south patio in conjunction with Sycamore Hoopla. Check-in begins at 8:15 a.m. with plunging beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Mayor Duke Bennett, University Police Chief Bill Mercier, officers with Terre Haute and ISU Police departments, staff from GFS Marketplace and Mix-FM, Miss ISU, members of the ISU football and women's soccer teams, the men of Pi Kappa Alpha and the women of Alpha Sigma Alpha are among those scheduled to take a dip in the pool.

Plungers will compete for awards for the best costume, most money raised by an individual, most money raised by a team and a special Campus Challenge award for the largest campus group of plungers. Participants must raise a "bear" minimum of $75 to plunge ($50 minimum for students with a student ID). All proceeds will benefit Special Olympics athletes, giving them the opportunity to train locally and compete at the state level in a variety of Olympic-type sports. Even if you're not willing to brave the waters, organizers encourage you to come out and cheer those who are.

Sponsors for the Terre Haute Plunge include Indiana State University, Hulman Center, Clabber Girl, First Financial Bank, MacAllister Machinery, Complete Outdoor, Wal-Mart, ResCare, Sodexo, Pepsi, The Corner Grind, Mix-FM and WTWO.

Current students can take their families to an all you can eat brunch Saturday at Sycamore Dining from 11-1:30 p.m.

Following the plunge, the ISU men's basketball team, coached by Greg Lansing, will tip off at 1:05 p.m. against Southern Illinois. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for youth and are available at the Hulman Center ticket office.

SYCAMORE HOOPLA SCHEDULE

Friday, Feb. 11
6 p.m. Doors open
7:05 p.m. ISU women vs. Bradley

Saturday, Feb. 12
8:15 a.m. Registration for Polar Plunge begins
9:30 a.m. Polar Plunge, a fundraiser for Special Olympics Indiana
11 a.m. -1:30 p.m. Brunch at Sycamore Dining (Current students and their families)
11:30 p.m. Doors open
1:05 p.m. ISU men vs. Southern Illinois

Contact: Jennifer Cook, Hulman Center, 812-237-3770

Writer: Paula Meyer, ISU Communications and Marketing, 812-237-3783 or Paula.Meyer@indstate.edu