Crunch Brunch? What’s that?

Crunch Brunch is a finals-week tradition at UK, dating back at least ten years. Crunch Brunch is held at Memorial Coliseum, and normally draws around 2,000 people. The best part: IT’S FREE!!
The Student Activities Board (SAB) sponsors, plans and executes this event for faculty, staff and students the Monday of finals week to  help calm prickly nerves and fill hungry bellies.  Attendees can expect breakfast-type foods and beverages, activities, giveaways, games, music, massages, advice and a laid-back atmosphere to relax with friends and colleagues, while letting the worries of final exams drift away… At least from 9:00 pm until midnight.
This year’s event, held December 12, was highly anticipated due to cancellation last year because of hazardous winter weather. According to Riana English, Director of Student Life for the SAB, this year will be the best yet.
Women’s Hoops Coach Matthew Mitchell was at Memorial Coliseum signing autographs for fans. A new, hip addition to the festivities this year was a flavored oxygen bar. The biggest plus to attending Crunch Brunch says English is “The T-Shirt”. In past years, the t-shirt theme has centered around “The Blue”. This year, however, the t-shirts were long-sleeved and black with orange graphics. The t-shirts are very popular with students and are nearly considered a rite of passage at UK. 
People who have attended Crunch Brunch in the past may remember former UK President Lee Todd running the pool table. He would offer concert tickets or some other prize to anyone who could beat him. He never lost. UK’s new President Eli Capilouto and his wife were expected to be in attendance to mingle with Brunchers and just get to know people, according to English.
The SAB also provided shuttle buses back to residences so students would not be alone on campus so late in the evening. English stated that most students come in groups, so personal safety for them is not a huge issue, however, for those who do venture out alone, they do not have to worry about walking across campus alone at midnight. English also stated this is a very straight-laced event, with no students ever caught secretly drinking alcohol or bringing alcohol to the Crunch.
If you missed Crunch Brunch this year, there’s always next year (unless you are a senior). The SAB works very hard to pull this event together for the benefit of the entire campus. The SAB works alone on this project with no help from any other student/campus organizations or area businesses. All booths and activities are run by volunteers, mostly UK staff, so students, including SAB members can relax and enjoy the evening.
For more information on the SAB and upcoming events sponsored by the SAB, visit their website at http://www.uksab.org/.