The search is on as NIU students look for the “worst, most hated” printed advertisements they can find.

The NIU Advertising Club will award prizes to students who turn in the top five worst ads throughout this week.

The contest, Ad Tension, “is intended to give students a break from midterms and to relieve some of the added pressure that surrounds the week,” Advertising Club Vice President Dan Burke said.

Club President Karen Schill said, “We wanted to do something fun for the students. In a way the club is rebelling against advertising for a week.”

She said, “Just dig up the ad that you hate the most—the very worst one you can find—and put it in the drop box on our bulletin board.” The bulletin board is located in Watson Hall.

The club, a not-for-profit volunteer service, will judge the ads the following week and give a variety of prizes donated by Old Style.

obert Denton, associate professor of communication studies and the club’s adviser, said, “We usually carry between 40 and 60 members, and they each have the opportunity to gain practical experience in advertising.”

“This semester we are creating ad campaigns for the Blackhawk, the Pow Wow and the Pheasant Room in the Holmes Student Center,” Schill said.