2008 Woodie Awards
Student-led organization makes case for poker at USA
Melan
Issue date: 4/9/07 Section: News
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Many students who participate in activities on the University of South Alabama's main campus may notice some recent changes toward one extracurricular activity: poker.
Administration officials recently banned the monthly poker tournament held on Thursday nights in the student center ballroom. The event, which was co-sponsored by Jaguar Productions, began over two years ago and was created by then student center director and head of the University disciplinary committee Randy Hunter. Andrew Brandt, president of the poker club, took time to discuss what made the poker tournament so unique and appealing to students. "They meet a bunch of people. It's competitive … and it's entertaining. A lot of skill is involved. It's really fun."
Brandt went on to say student participation in the tournament was higher than in many other activities on campus. "Every month it would grow. It was about 50 members, then 60. Before they shut it down, it averaged about 80 every single month," Brandt said.
The huge turnout generated by the monthly tournament gave Brandt the incentive to expand the tournament into an organization. "A couple of guys and I, we always play cards, so we decided to start a poker club. So, what we were going to do, Randy was probably going to let us take over the school tournament, and we were going to add a couple of things to it," Brandt said. "We were going to be incorporated under the school tournament and get funds through JP (Jaguar Productions) with gift certificates."
Unfortunately, the handing out of gift certificates to the first and second place winners of the tournaments is what led to the banning of the activity. Brandt said when he talked to University officials, they claimed the activity was illegal because poker is considered a game of chance.
Brandt said if the tournament were given the chance to be able to expand and develop into an established organization, there would have been more activities planned for students. "It (the tournament) was once every month. We wanted to maybe do it twice every month."
Administration officials recently banned the monthly poker tournament held on Thursday nights in the student center ballroom. The event, which was co-sponsored by Jaguar Productions, began over two years ago and was created by then student center director and head of the University disciplinary committee Randy Hunter. Andrew Brandt, president of the poker club, took time to discuss what made the poker tournament so unique and appealing to students. "They meet a bunch of people. It's competitive … and it's entertaining. A lot of skill is involved. It's really fun."
Brandt went on to say student participation in the tournament was higher than in many other activities on campus. "Every month it would grow. It was about 50 members, then 60. Before they shut it down, it averaged about 80 every single month," Brandt said.
The huge turnout generated by the monthly tournament gave Brandt the incentive to expand the tournament into an organization. "A couple of guys and I, we always play cards, so we decided to start a poker club. So, what we were going to do, Randy was probably going to let us take over the school tournament, and we were going to add a couple of things to it," Brandt said. "We were going to be incorporated under the school tournament and get funds through JP (Jaguar Productions) with gift certificates."
Unfortunately, the handing out of gift certificates to the first and second place winners of the tournaments is what led to the banning of the activity. Brandt said when he talked to University officials, they claimed the activity was illegal because poker is considered a game of chance.
Brandt said if the tournament were given the chance to be able to expand and develop into an established organization, there would have been more activities planned for students. "It (the tournament) was once every month. We wanted to maybe do it twice every month."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
ericka
posted 4/24/07 @ 1:29 PM CST
i think that it is insane that south pulled the plug on poker tournament. it was an event that many of the students attended. i personally can t say i participate with south's events but my friends looked forward to poker nite every month it was the one thing they would always to go. (Continued…)
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