Memphis State University - DeSoto Yearbook (Memphis, TN)

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Playing Games Sometimes a college student needs to forget the books and relax T h he Side Pocket. The name suggests a room of pool tables, beer buddies and dart boards. Close. Really it ' s the university game room, where hun- dreds of students vent frus- tration, make conversation and simply relax each day. Whether students play table tennis, air hockey or foosball (table soccer), a willing opponent is usually nearby. Pool skills can al- ways be sharpened, and learning a few moves never hurt anyone. Three pinball machines provide a blast from the past, while many quarter-eating video mon- sters line the walls. This popular hangout provides refuge for ap- Operation Wolf is a very popular game among many of the students who frequent the Side Pocket. Eric Beaupre shows that a steady hand and a sharp eye will master any game. Devin Greaney proximately 800 to 1,300 college students per day. Located on the first floor across from the bookstore in the University Center, the Side Pocket is both owned and operated by the university. This, to the de- light of many cue-holders, enables the cost of playing games to be considerably lower than what is paid off- campus. Is the business profitable to this, university? Yes and no. It is, in the sense that students benefit from hav- ing a place to socialize. For many, shooting a few games « ' tales of tigers

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been uncommon sights this long as they can get that year as the meal plan satisfied feeling after a hot, guardians came down hearty meal. ■ harder on violators than they have in the past. There are four Food Serv- ices outlets where students can use a meal ticket. These are spread all over the campus. Although these appear to provide a wide choice of dining locations, the place to eat weeknight su ppers and all weekend meals is restricted to the Tiger Den. This does not create a complete inconven- ience, but it does limit the possibilities. Another limitation for students is the restriction on meal times. According to the Food Services contract, a meal ticket may only be used once during any one meal ' s serving period. These periods are outlined by Food Services and are strictly upheld. For in- stance, because dinner begins at 4:00 p.m., a stu- dent who missed lunch may not use his card to eat twice between four and midnight. Due to these designated times and possible missed meals, a missed meal fac- tor is already figured into the price of each plan. In essence, the prices are lower because of possible missed meals. Sometimes having a meal plan can be an inconven- ience, but it does have its advantages. Food Services provides already prepared and paid for real food, with some all-you-can-eat items, at a relatively low price. And the cafeterias are places to socialize while someone else does the cooking and cleaning, too. For many, the sacrifices and hassles are tolerable as Melynda Howell Real food is easily available to meal card holders like Eric Gaither, who has invested part of his budget in order to have access to entire meals. However, some re- strictions do apply to these cards. For example, a meal ticket may only be used once during any one meal ' s serving period. Devin Greaney Man cannot live by bread alone. Tiger Den, the main cafeteria, of- fers Italian food , as well as fast food and frozen yogurt. Melissa Flanigan smiles as she receives part of her home-cooked meal from Karen Richardson, a Food Services em- ployee. Perhaps one of the best as- pects of having a full-service cafe- teria is not having to cook or clean- up after a meal. Devin Greaney food services

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of pool after class refreshes the mind before evening study time sets in. On the other hand, busi- ness isn ' t exactly booming. The care and maintenance of the video machines is handled by an outside company, determined by bid. Therefore, Memphis State only receives a per- centage of the profit from the games. The university does earn enough from the game room to meet the budget, main- tain the equipment and stay out of the red; but they are not clearing thousands of dollars, by any means. In the past there has been whispered talk of al- tering the game room in some way. For example, thought went into increas- ing the size of the book- store, where profits are much higher, while re- ducing the size of the Side Pocket to accommodate the need for space. Evidently, this theory and others like it have been put to rest for the moment. After all, what would a stu- dent center be without a place for students to have fun? So, to the relief of many leisure-lovers, the size and state of their den will re- main unchanged. In addition to being a place to play games for fun, the university game room houses many special events. The management often works closely with the Student Activities Council recreation committee to coordinate tournaments throughout the year for the amateur pool, ping-pong and foosball players on campus. The Side Pocket and SAC recreation committee also occasionally sponsor pro- fessional exhibitions. In How ' bout the side pocket? Michelle Beaudette shows her accuracy at the game of pool. She and many other daily pool players enjoy the lower fees available to stu- dents due to the fact that the Side Pocket is university- owned and operated. Serge Samaha Is it real? Rob Parr is a prime ex ample of what happens to a video junkie. Rob, and almost a 1,000 other stu- dents, use the Side Pocket daily as an escape from the reality of the hectic school year. DevinGreaney January, internationally famous pocket billiard and trick show artist Jack White performed two shows at the Side Pocket while many fans and bystanders looked on to learn a few secrets and tricks of the trade. The Side Pocket, while providing an outlet for that college stress, is one of many places on campus in which students hang out. However, in this one, life is no more than fun and games. ■ Melynda Howell Whew, he almost got me! Ask any video player, they definitely take their game seri- ously. Jimmy Guier puts a huge amount of concentration, and probably quar- ters, into beating the machine. Devin Greaney 19 gameroom