Grand Alternative offers substance-free events for Purdue students

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Several substance-free activities will be offered through April 20 for Purdue students as part of the annual Grand Prix celebrations.

Many campus organizations, offices and departments will participate in this year's Grand Alternative, which will feature a wide range of events such as concerts, sports, discussions and parties.

The Office of the Dean of Students sponsors Grand Alternative with support from the Student Wellness Office and the Division of Recreational Sports. It is funded through a $15,000 grant from the Purdue Student Fee Advisory Board.

All Grand Alternative events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. The following is a list of activities and sponsors:

* April 14. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Purdue Engineering Student Council Grand Alternative Golf Tournament. Ackerman Hills Golf Course. Sponsored by PESC. For more, visit http://www.purdueesc.org

* April 14. 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Grand Prix Car Show. North Ross-Ade Stadium parking lot. Sponsored by the Purdue Automotive Performance Association. For more, visit http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~papa/

* April 14. 11 a.m. Ross-Ade Stadium. Color Yourself for the Kids 5K walk/run. Participate in a 5K with a colorful twist. Sponsored by the Purdue chapter of College Mentors for Kids.

* April 14. 3-10 p.m. Lilly Hall, Room 3118. Second Annual LGBTQIA Film Festival. Opening day of a film festival featuring comedies, drama, horror and other genres of LEGTQIA experiences from all over the world. Sponsored by the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals at Purdue Grad Student Organization (NOGLSTP). For more, visit http://www.noglstp.net/purdue/2nd-lgbtqia-film-festival/

April 14. 3:30-6 p.m. Wiley Hall East Activity Room (C215). Play Spoons, Filling Plates. This is a team spoons tournament that raises money for Food Finders. Bring three canned food items and a spoon to participate. Sponsored by Purdue Pharmacy Ambassadors. For more, visit http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~ppa/

* April 14. 4:30-6:30 p.m. Wesley Foundation, 435 W. State St. Wesley Praise-A-Palooza and Cookout. Sponsored by the Wesley Foundation at Purdue. Bands from three campus ministries will provide music, followed by a cookout. For more, visit http://www.wesleyfoundation.org/

* April 14. 7-10:30 p.m. Slayter Hill. Rock the Quad, sponsored by Cary Club.  This is a free concert featuring local bands and headliner Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. For more information, visit http://www.caryclub.org/rtq

*April 15. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wetherill Laboratory of Chemistry, Room 200. Screening of the movie SWITCH! Free food will be available. Sponsored by the Purdue Energy Forum. For more information, visit http://www.purdueenergyforum.org/

* April 15. 6-10 p.m. Beering Hall, Room 2280. Day two of second annual LGBTQIA Film Festival. For more, visit http://www.noglstp.net/purdue/2nd-lgbtqia-film-festival/

* April 16. 4-6 p.m. Recess Revival. Remember when recess was one of the best parts of the school day? Take a trip down memory lane with food, music and inflatables. Bring your board games and take a break. Sponsored by the Purdue Mechanical Engineering Ambassadors. For more information, visit http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~pmea05/wordpress/

* April 16. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Memorial Mall. Tricycle Races. Event features race around the mall and free food. Sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega. For more, visit http://www.purdue.edu/apo

* April 16. 6-10 p.m. Beering Hall, Room 2280. Day three of second annual LGBTQIA Film Festival. For more information, visit http://www.noglstp.net/purdue/2nd-lgbtqia-film-festival/

* April 17. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Memorial Mall. Weeping Angel Freeze Mob and Picnic. Event includes a freeze mob, discussion of alcohol awareness and a picnic. Sponsored by the Society of Gallifreyan Scholars at Purdue. For more, visit http://www.getinvolved.purdue.edu/organization/sgsp

* April 17. 5:30-8 p.m. Pi Kappa Alpha parking lot, 629 University St., West Lafayette. Grill Out and Chill Out. Event features games, music, food and sports. Sponsored by Purdue University Dance Marathon. For more information, visit http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~dancema/

* April 17. 6-9 p.m. Wetherill Laboratory of Chemistry, Room 104. Day four of second annual LGBTQIA Film Festival. For more, visit http://www.noglstp.net/purdue/2nd-lgbtqia-film-festival/

* April 17. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Agricultural Administration Building lawn. Free pancakes, music and mechanical bull rides are featured in this event. Sponsored by the Purdue Agricultural Council. For more, visit http://www.getinvolved.purdue.edu/organization/agriculturecouncil

* April 18. 5-7:30 p.m. Martin C. Jischke Hall of Biomedical Engineering lawn. End of Year Cookout. Sponsored by Alpha Eta Mu Beta.

* April 18. 6-10 p.m. Beering Hall, Room 2280. Day five of second annual LGBTQIA Film Festival. For more, visit http://www.noglstp.net/purdue/2nd-lgbtqia-film-festival/

* April 18. 7 p.m. Band practice field on Third Street, west of the fire station and across from Shreve Hall. Life in Color tour Rebirth, featuring Krewella, David Solano and Milk N Cookies. Sponsored by the Purdue Student Concert Committee. Single-ticket price: VIP, $73; others $51-$58. Limit six. Campus policies for ticket lines apply. For more, visit www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2013/Q1/new-life-in-color-site-announced-and-more-acts-added-to-the-april-18-event.html

* April 19. 6-10 p.m. Wetherill Laboratory of Chemistry, Room 104. Day six of second annual LGBTQIA Film Festival. For more, visit http://www.noglstp.net/purdue/2nd-lgbtqia-film-festival/

* April 19. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Slayter Hill. Carnival Night and Battle of the Bands. Bands will face off to see who will be crowned the best of 2013. Free food, a caricature artist, inflatables, carnival midway games and crafts also will be featured. Sponsored by the Purdue Student Union Board and the Division of Recreational Sports. For more, visit http://www.convocations.org/portfolio/scc/ or http://www.purdue.edu/recsports/

* April 19. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The Baptist Student Foundation, 200 N. Russell St., and the Wesley Foundation, 435 W. State St. Double Feature: Found Coffee & Wesley Pancakes. The two foundations offer coffee, Italian soda, euchre, live music and pancakes." Sponsored by the Baptist Student Foundation and the Wesley Foundation. For more, visit http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~bsf/ or http://www.wesleyfoundation.org/

* April 20. 56th Grand Prix Race. 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Grand Prix Track, near corner of Cherry Lane and McCormick Road. Free shuttle service from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., running to and from Wiley Dining Hall, the Memorial Mall side of Stewart Center and the Ross-Ade Stadium parking lot. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the gate. Advance tickets will be on sale April 13-14 during Purdue's Spring Fest at the Grand Prix tent on Memorial Mall. Ticket sales will continue April 16 in the Stewart Center lobby, outside of the Class of 1950 Lecture Hall, on the Engineering Mall and in the Purdue Memorial Union basement. Tickets also can be purchased by emailing sales@purduegrandprix.org. For more, visit http://www.purduegrandprix.org/

* April 20. Noon to 10 a.m. April 21. Purdue Armory. BoilerFrag 5.0. The gaming event features more than 22 hours of games, prizes and food. Sponsored by the Purdue University Gamers Group. For more, visit http://pugg.net/

* April 20. 1-5 p.m. Lilly Hall, Room 3118. Final day of second annual LGBTQIA Film Festival. For more, visit http://www.noglstp.net/purdue/2nd-lgbtqia-film-festival/

* April 20. 9-11 p.m. Slayter Hill (rain location is Fowler Hall). Movie on the Hill. Sponsored by the Purdue Student Union Board. For more, visit http://www.union.purdue.edu/PSUB/

 * April 20. 8 p.m. to midnight. Fairway Cooperative parking lot, 1320 David Ross Road, West Lafayette. Grand Alternative Parking Lot Luau. Event includes outdoor luau with music, food, sorts and inflatables. For more, visit http://fairway.org/

For more information on the Grand Alternative, visit http://www.purdue.edu/grandalternative

Writer: Greg McClure, 765-496-9711, gmcclure@purdue.edu