While it may have taken place on April 1, the event hosted in the Huskie Den for NIU’s graduate students was no joke. 

To kick off graduate student appreciation week, the graduate school of NIU rented the second floor of the Huskie Den from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and invited graduate students to enjoy an evening of bowling, billiards and refreshments. 

“The Graduate Student Bowling and Billiards Social” may have seemed like another regular event available for anyone to enjoy, but it was far from it. The event was strictly for the eyes, ears and taste buds of graduate students only. 

Jessica Reyman, associate dean of the NIU graduate school, wanted to reward the graduate students and have them feel like they belong alongside their fellow students. 

“We want our graduate students to know that they are a part of the NIU community,” Reyman said. “For them to socialize with people inside and outside of their normal circles and have a good time.”

The social had around 30 students in attendance with some of them choosing to partake in absolutely decimating some of the innocent bowling pins and others simply sitting down and talking with their fellow graduate students. 

Over the course of the event, more and more graduate Huskies slowly arrived and helped themselves to the stomach-rumbling snacks and sweet, savory refreshments. 

The smell of salty and savory cheese, sausage and pepperoni pizza wafted through the air along with the scent of brightly colored Caesar salads and veggies. 

The refreshments that complimented the oh-so-heavenly array of options included lemonade, punch and water, which were kept in decently-sized containers. 

As the evening wore on, the chatter of various students gradually fused into one merry symphony humming around the bowling lanes while the billiards remained devoid of any visitors. 

The students were given the option of taking home a few goodies. 

Sitting on a table nearby, the goodies included an assortment of bright red, gravel gray and pitch black t-shirts, black sunglasses and water bottle decorations. 

A raffle was also held at the end of the event in which four lucky students were randomly selected to win four NIU sweatshirts. 

Bailey Scidmore-Sievers, the enrollment records representative for NIU’s graduate school, was satisfied to see the graduate students attend. 

“I think it went well,” Scidmore-Sievers said. “I hope they enjoyed the pizza and swag that was available for them to enjoy.”