Grand Alternative offers substance-free events for Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Several substance-free activities will be offered through Saturday (April 24) for Purdue students as part of the annual Grand Prix celebrations.

Many campus organizations, offices and departments will participate in this year's Grand Alternative, which will feature a wide range of events.

The Student Activities and Organizations Office sponsors Grand Alternative with support from the Student Wellness Office, Purdue Student Government and the Fraternity, Sorority and Cooperative Life Office.

All Grand Alternative events are open to the public unless otherwise noted. The events and sponsors include:

* Monday (April 18). 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Class of 1950 Lecture Hall. Horizons Lemonade Sale, sponsored by Horizons Student Support Club. Proceeds will help raise funds for the club's end-of-year picnic.

* Tuesday (April 19). 1:30-3 p.m. Outside Class of 1950 Lecture Hall. The Purdue Collegiate Ministry will give free popcorn and information about their organization.

* Tuesday (April 19) and Wednesday (April 20). 11:20 a.m. each day. Memorial Mall. Tap Project, sponsored by UNICEF Campus Initiative. Student volunteers will compete in a relay while carrying a bucket of water to help raise awareness that some people around the world must collect and carry water on a daily basis. Other activities include a visual comparison between the water that we drink and the unsanitary water that is consumed in some areas of the world.

* Wednesday (April 20). 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Outside Class of 1950 Lecture Hall. "Mental Health Week Card Making," sponsored by TWLOHA of Purdue. Participants can make cards with words of encouragement for patients at Sycamore Springs, a mental health and addiction treatment center.

* Wednesday (April 20). 5:30 p.m. Delon and Elizabeth Hampton Hall of Civil Engineering. April industry speaker, sponsored by the Purdue chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Event will feature information about companies and projects in civil engineering.

* Wednesday (April 20). 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Agricultural Administration Building lawn. Moonlight Pancake Breakfast, sponsored by the Purdue Agricultural Student Council. Free pancakes and a DJ are featured.

* Thursday (April 21). 8:30-10:30 a.m. Lyles-Porter Hall. "Perk Up with PASO," sponsored by Purdue Audiology Student Organization. PASO members will be selling coffee on the first floor of Lyles-Porter Hall.

* Thursday (April 21). 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Founders Park, near Loeb Fountain. "Ask-a-Catholic Booth," sponsored by Purdue Catholics Students.

* Thursday (April 21). 6 p.m. Stewart Center. "Little Dresses for Africa," sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha. Participants will cut out and create dresses from pillowcases that will be sent to destinations in Africa.

* Thursday (April 21). 7-9 p.m. Purdue Memorial Union Commons. "Coffee and Canvas," sponsored by Purdue Student Union Board. Participants can paint canvases and enjoy samples from Starbucks. Cost is $5.

* Friday (April 22). 7 p.m. Rawls Hall, Room 1086. "Ignite," sponsored by Purdue Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship. Event features worship and a social hour.

* Friday (April 22). 8:30 p.m. Purdue Co-Rec Gold Field. "Extreme Water Night," sponsored by Purdue Bible Fellowship. Water-themed games.

* Saturday (April 23). 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Grand Prix Track, near corner of Cherry Lane and McCormick Road. The 59th Annual Purdue Grand Prix Race. Qualifying heats for final six positions start at 11:30 a.m. Feature race at 2:30 p.m. Free shuttle from several campus pickup points; recommended due to very limited parking at track. Tickets: $10 at gate, $7 in advance; children under 12, $5. For more, visit http://www.purduegrandprix.org/

* Saturday (April 23). 7 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Alexander Field parking lot. Grand Prix Car Show, co-hosted by the Purdue Automotive Performance Association and the Purdue Grand Prix Foundation.

* Saturday (April 23). 5-10 p.m. Matthews Hall, Room 210. "Stroll Competition," sponsored by the Multicultural Greek Council. Purdue Greek organizations will demonstrate the stroll routine, an energetic synchronized dance.

* Saturday (April 23). 12-3 p.m. St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 535 W. State St., West Lafayette. "Taste of Asia," sponsored by the Asian Student Union Board. Purdue Asian organizations serve food that represents their countries in this annual food festival.

* Saturday (April 23). 7 p.m. Stewart Center's Loeb Playhouse. Black Cultural Center's Jahari Dance Troupe Spring Revue. Choreography by Joshua Ishmon. Admission is $5 for Purdue students, $7 for the public. 

* Saturday (April 23). 9 p.m. Slayter Hill. "Movie on the Hill," featuring "Dirty Grandpa." Movie is free. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Sponsored by Purdue Student Union Board.

* Sunday (April 24). 3 p.m. France Córdova Recreational Sports Center. "Healthy Sunday Funday," sponsored by the National Student Speech, Language & Hearing Association. Event promotes healthy living, networking and learning about other majors and organizations. Activities include kickball, sack races and a water balloon toss.

* Sunday (April 24). 3 p.m. France Córdova Recreational Sports Center. "Contact Improvisation Jam," sponsored by Contact Improvisation at Purdue. A facilitated dance directed by by Purdue staff members where motion through space and contact is explored in a free-form dance space free of extra materials and equipment. 

Writer: Greg McClure, 765-496-9711, gmcclure@purdue.edu 

Source: Martia King, senior assistant dean of students, 765-494-1231, mbrawner@purdue.edu