EIU Media Relations

Community Invited to Share in EIU’s First Night Activities

The EIU and surrounding community members are invited to attend the 2015 EIU First Night to officially kick off the school year.

EIU First Night is the annual opening-night spirit rally designed to promote university pride while welcoming EIU students back to campus.

The spirit rally will occur from 8 to 9 p.m. Sunday, August 23, on the South Quad.            

The featured speaker of the rally is EIU’s President David Glassman, who will welcome students home to their Panther community. The spirit rally will feature appearances by the EIU Pep Band and Drumline, EIU Blue Crew, Billy the Panther, EIU Cheer Team and Pink Panthers.

Highlights of the opening night also include a T-shirt giveaway, new cheers/chants, singing of EIU’s Fight Song, contests and music by disc jockey Glenn Patterson.

All Panther fans are encouraged to attend and showcase their Panther Pride by wearing EIU colors.

A limited number of First Night spirit T-shirts will also be available for free on a first-come, first-served basis.

The 2015 EIU First Night is sponsored by EIU Student Government, the EIU’s Parent’s Club, EIU’s University Board, the MLK Jr. Union, the EIU Office of Student Community Service, and the Athletics Department.  

Classes at EIU begin Monday, Aug. 24.

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