500 Students Attend Council's Casino Night

Organizers estimated that about 500 students chose to foresake the usual Valentine's Day social fare so they could pretend to gamble at the Undergraduate Council-sponsored "Casino Night."

If the estimate is correct, the council is expected to lose $600 of its $5600 allocation. But planners called the Memorial Hall event, which was held on Friday, a success because students who attended enjoyed the festivities.

"Regardless of how the fiscal tally comes out, everyone was busy, happy and entertained," said social committee Co-Chair Mary E. Dibbern '92, who secured council funding for the event despite stiff opposition at the beginning.

Casino Night was labeled an "entertainment subsidy" event and was not expected to make a profit, said Dibbern.

Ticket sales to the event rose by about 150 as Krokadillo fans were enticed by the offer of free drinks to those attending the concert in neighboring Sander's Theatre, said council Chair David A. Aronberg '93.

Council members who attended the event said the positive feedback from students may bolster the low opinionundergraduates have of the council's socialactivities.

"For once in the UC's existence, we had anearly unanimous approval rating for the event,"said Aronberg.

"The UC social events traditionally had animage of not being cool," Dibbern said. "Thiswill turn the tide."

Social committee Co-Chair Tree F. Loong '94said Casino Night also provided an alternative tocampus events centered around alcohol. Althoughliquor was served, a team of 30 professionaldealers tried to create a Las Vegas atmosphere.

In this high-stakes, high-rolling event,risk-seeking students used chips to bet instandard casino games, including blackjack, craps,roulette and poker. In addition, several studentswere awarded prizes at the end of the night.

Aronberg presented the prizes, including a freenight at the Harvard Inn, to the top 10chip-earners and 10 raffle winners.

A magician, a palm-reader and several studentsinging acts worked to keep non-gamblersentertained.

The Harvard University Police Departmentpermitted the council to stage the event becauseno exchange of money took place, Dibbern said

"For once in the UC's existence, we had anearly unanimous approval rating for the event,"said Aronberg.

"The UC social events traditionally had animage of not being cool," Dibbern said. "Thiswill turn the tide."

Social committee Co-Chair Tree F. Loong '94said Casino Night also provided an alternative tocampus events centered around alcohol. Althoughliquor was served, a team of 30 professionaldealers tried to create a Las Vegas atmosphere.

In this high-stakes, high-rolling event,risk-seeking students used chips to bet instandard casino games, including blackjack, craps,roulette and poker. In addition, several studentswere awarded prizes at the end of the night.

Aronberg presented the prizes, including a freenight at the Harvard Inn, to the top 10chip-earners and 10 raffle winners.

A magician, a palm-reader and several studentsinging acts worked to keep non-gamblersentertained.

The Harvard University Police Departmentpermitted the council to stage the event becauseno exchange of money took place, Dibbern said