MRC parties fund student trips

Funds collected from birthday parties and lock-ins hosted by the Morris Recreational Center (MRC) are being used to send student workers to professional development conferences.

The MRC has offered to host birthday parties and lock-ins since Fall 2003.

"Money from these events is used to send students to conferences, workshops and different opportunities to develop students," MRC Coordinator of Facilities Operations Matt Clair said. "We like giving back to students."

There are about 10 student conferences the MRC plans to help students attend during the year.

"We are currently sending eight students to a student conference at UTA (University of Texas at Arlington)," Clair said. "We paid for everything including registration fees, transportation, housing and meals."

The students attending are all student workers at the MRC with a variety of majors.

"These conferences are available for everyone, not just students going into recreation." MRC Associate Director of Facilities and Operations Jerome Osborne said. "They're one of those awesome conferences that are open for anyone that works in the building."

Professional development is the focus, so lessons taught are those that can be applied to all majors.

"The key focus is to teach interviewing skills, resume skills and networking," Osborne said. "They teach everything that goes into presenting yourself in a professional way."

Additions to the marketing plan of the MRC are underway to increase the promotion of birthday parties and lock-ins, which will increase student conference funds.

"Most of our advertising is currently seen on websites," Clair said. "But we're starting to look at adding to our marketing campaign with advertising on television and billboards."

The effort to increase advertising in the media will also increase advertising for Texas A&M University-Commerce and the city of Commerce.

"We get business from people from Commerce and surrounding communities because our building is considered one of the best buildings," Clair said. "The MRC is a good beacon for the university and Commerce."

There are prices set by the MRC for birthday parties and lock-ins. A birthday party occupying the entire facility with video games is $375. The entire facility without video games is $325. A birthday party with the rock wall for 10 to 25 people varies from $125 to $200, depending on the number of people attending.
Lock-ins can only occur after normal operating hours and require a deposit and liability waivers. A lock-in that lasts three hours costs $1,500 to $2,000. A lock-in that lasts four hours costs $2,500 to $3,000. A lock-in that lasts six hours costs $3,500 to $4,000.

There are some students that believe the relationship between the school and public can be improved in other ways.

"I think if they were to lower the prices it would help the school's relationship with the city more," senior Erneshia Spencer said. "But as it is, I don't think many people take advantage of the different opportunities offered because the prices are so high."

However, the opportunity to hold events at the MRC goes back to the students.

"We have a lot of organizations use our facilities," Clair said. "We are here for the student organizations and students are one of our main priorities."