University Housing and Dining Service’s annual On-Campus Resident Appreciation Night returns to Lantz Arena tonight during the men’s and women’s basketball games vs. Western Michigan.

This year’s theme, “WIN STUFF,” is telling of what will happen. Three prizes during the women’s game will be given away and five more during the men’s game.

Chad Franks, marketing and promotions specialist, has worked for housing and dining services for 10 years, and the dorm room raffle has been around a lot longer than that, he said.

“The most popular prize has always been the singleroom upgrade,” Franks said. “It guarantees the recipient a single room for the 2010-2011 academic year at the same price as a regular double room.”

The estimated value of the singleroom upgrade is $1,600 and is applicable for rooms in residence halls or Greek Court.

“This year we sent out online surveys asking people what they wanted us to give away,” Franks said. “As of right now I have 284 confirmed guests on Facebook and 600 maybes- more than triple our expected turnout from last year.”

Other prizes include a series of over-sized gift baskets from Panther Catering.

Included is a giant brownie gift basket, a cookie gift basket, an oversized gourmet coffee gift basket and a candy gift basket featuring treats from Flesor’s Homemade Candy Kitchen in Tuscola.

“We’re basically super-sizing the gift baskets we sell online and adding a few special touches here and there,” Franks said.

On-campus residents who want to attend the game can pick up a raffle ticket in the southeast balcony during the games.

Mark Hudson, director of University Housing and Dining Services, said that the night is for more than just raffles.

“The event is really two-folded,” he said.

The evening doubles as housing and dining employee appreciation night.

Full-time housing and dining staff will be admitted free of charge, and will receive vouchers for free items at the concessions.

The women’s game begins at 5:30 p.m., and the men’s begins right after at 7:30 p.m.

Jason Hardimon can be reached at 581-7942 or jrhardimon2@eiu.edu.