Spring Break
'Buy local' fair introduces students to local merchants
Joe Astrouski / City Editor
Issue date: 3/26/09 Section: News
Eastern students may spend four or more years in Charleston, but some seldom venture far off campus.
Student senate member Michelle Martin hoped to change that by holding a "buy local" business fair in the University Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union Wednesday.
"I want students to get to know the local area and buy local and help the economy here," Martin said. "This is our town…we're half of the town."
She said students often wait to buy things until they go home on break, instead of spending their money in Charleston.
The fair included booths from about 30 local business including banks, clothing stores, restaurants and specialty shops.
Karly Crapse, a sales and special events coordinator for Lincoln Springs Resort near Charleston, had a booth for her business at the fair.
She said many student groups support the resort.
"A lot of different organizations have rented our facilities for special events," Crapse said. "A lot of students come out for miniature golf and come out to eat."
Jill Age, executive assistant for the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce agrees, adding that many Eastern students who intern at the chamber have never spent time around the square downtown.
Age said students need to know what attractions and services the community offer, adding that Eastern has begun promoting local business to new and potential students.
"I think it's making students aware of what's available in town, and I don't think a lot of people are aware of what's available," Age said. "Eastern is taking a proactive approach of trying to let students know what's in town."
Joe Astrouski can be reached at 581-7942 or at jmastrouski@eiu.edu.
Student senate member Michelle Martin hoped to change that by holding a "buy local" business fair in the University Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union Wednesday.
"I want students to get to know the local area and buy local and help the economy here," Martin said. "This is our town…we're half of the town."
She said students often wait to buy things until they go home on break, instead of spending their money in Charleston.
The fair included booths from about 30 local business including banks, clothing stores, restaurants and specialty shops.
Karly Crapse, a sales and special events coordinator for Lincoln Springs Resort near Charleston, had a booth for her business at the fair.
She said many student groups support the resort.
"A lot of different organizations have rented our facilities for special events," Crapse said. "A lot of students come out for miniature golf and come out to eat."
Jill Age, executive assistant for the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce agrees, adding that many Eastern students who intern at the chamber have never spent time around the square downtown.
Age said students need to know what attractions and services the community offer, adding that Eastern has begun promoting local business to new and potential students.
"I think it's making students aware of what's available in town, and I don't think a lot of people are aware of what's available," Age said. "Eastern is taking a proactive approach of trying to let students know what's in town."
Joe Astrouski can be reached at 581-7942 or at jmastrouski@eiu.edu.
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