Student organizations at ‘core’ of festival

File The Graffiti Club is only one of the many student organizations that will be represented at ‘The Core’ during Manifest 2004.

At the third annual Manifest, 40 of Columbia’s student organizations will be represented. And with a wide variety of activities and events available, there’s something for everyone.
“We have double the space and double the amount of things happening,” said Dominic Cottone, director of student leadership. “Our No. 1 goal is to get the students to come out and make connections that will help build their skills outside of class.”

Instead of last year’s centrally located “Town Square,” this year’s festival features “The Core,” which is made up of members from the Student Government Association and the Student Organization Council, according to Tanisha Pleasant, Manifest and student organization coordinator. Located between the three main stages, The Core offers free massages, henna tattoo art, psychic readings and the opportunity to win prizes and gift certificates from the Core Money Machine.

All of the student organizations present at Manifest are giving away prizes as well as informational handouts, according to Justin Kulovsek, president of the Student Government Association.

“It’s pretty much a place that students are … overseeing the entire area,” Kulovsek said.
In addition to providing information about Columbia’s student organizations, the SGA will offer students the chance to pick the unofficial Columbia mascot at Manifest, according to Kulovsek.
“There will be three different people dressed up as mascots and then there’ll be voting,” Kulovsek said.

Among the student organizations, the Graffiti Club will paint a large mural in the park. Break dancers will perform in a space just left of The Core, according to Cottone. The International Student Organization offers the chance to learn a new language from students from more than 10 different countries, while the Television Arts Society will give students camera time as a news anchor. Columbia’s Coyotes baseball squad, the 2004 Wisconsin Illinois Baseball Conference champions, will be handing out baseball cards and information about the team.

“Manifest will be a great opportunity [for students] to show their artistic side outside of an academic setting,” Pleasant said.

The Core, located in Grant Park between the Main Stage and the Garden Stage, offers students the chance to learn more about the student organizations at Columbia and also gives them the opportunity to become a member. So pick a mascot, pick a club and maybe pick up some prizes as you make your way
through Manifest.