When people picture Texas Hold ‘Em, images of cigar smoke filled casinos and World Poker Tournament tend to come to mind. But, every Tuesday night at 7 p.m., the Rec IM provides students and faculty alike with a much different image.
“There were so many Texas Hold ‘Em programs on TV,” said Lou Gianino, the associate director of the Rec IM and the inventor of the program. “ Unless it’s behind closed doors, there was no place else to do this.”
Staring in the fall of 2004, players could buy in with $4 and receive unlimited pizza and pop, candy and chips, as well as a shot to win one of several prizes offered every week.
“It’s exciting,” said first time player, senior and special education major David Stefl. “The food is the best part.”
While the idea behind the program hasn’t changed in the seven years its been running, a few things, like the venue, has. Originally, the event was housed on the fifth floor of the Rec IM.
“We had 65 people show up the first night,” Gianino said. “Then 130 the next fall.”
The growth in popularity moved the event from the lounge like arena of the fifth floor to an unoccupied gym on the second floor. It stayed there for three years until they saw a dip in the level of attendance. They were back on the fifth floor, where there was a whole other feel to the event.
“I liked being in the lounge last year,” junior and elementary education major Daniel Bartrum said. “I worked it last year, I thought it was a lot of fun so I came out to play this year.”
Because the fifth floor space is a classroom this year, the group has been moved back to the second floor. But the venue isn’t the only thing that has changed, especially to those who have been around almost since the program began.
“I like playing and enjoy the students,” retired carpenter for the physical plant, Paul Jamison said. “I’ve been playing for six years and the students have gotten much better.”
Staff and former staff aren’t the only people in for the long haul. Some of the students have been around for a while too.
“I’ve played since my first year here,” junior and history and social studies major Jon Jolls said. “It’s a great group of people and it’s good to see the same faces each week and build friendships.”
The draw of meeting new people as well as the challenge of playing against them brings some students back time and again.
“I’ve been coming for two years,” junior and finance major Jake Heyblom said. “It’s a hobby of mine and I like playing with new people.”
While the game is all in good fun, it’s also an important part of what the Rec IM has to offer the students of Eastern.
“There are people here who don’t play at any of our other activities. We see a lot of international students who play,” Rec IM Director Bob England said. “We see an ebb and flow. One young lady came back to play after graduation. It’s a nice activity.”
Many participants enjoy that something beyond the physical is offered at the Rec IM for them to participate in.
“It’s an alternative way for people to meet others,” Jolls said. “You don’t have to be in a sorority or good at sports. Any one can play, it just takes skill to play it well.”
Skill isn’t a pre-requisite to play with this group. They take all kinds and all skill levels, and with all the chances to grow as a player, it becomes a win for all involved. If you play regularly, not only do you get to know the other players and the game, but you also get a chance to work your way up through points, which are earned through just showing up as well as playing well. At the end of the year, the top 35 people all come in and play for bigger prizes.
“We try to offer a broad range of activates for our clientele, and we about break even [with poker],” Gianino said. “We don’t make money off of it. Even if it cost us a little bit, we’d still do it. Everybody wins when we do this.”
