The crack of pool table balls can be heard in the Corum Student Union throughout the whole of each day.  But recently, people could hear it even more.

It can be hard for commuters to connect with other students on campus — even other commuters. Commuter Assistants have worked hard in order to create opportunities for commuting students to get involved. One of these such activities was the pool tournament held March 26-28.

“This event got many different people involved and attempted to expand the community of the pool area,” said David Mann, a sophomore who took part in the tournament.

Jonathon Houskamp, sophomore and also a competitor, agreed.

“I played a couple of games against people I didn’t know, so it helped me get to know a few more people.”

The tournament boasted 20 students, most of whom were commuters, but several of which were not. On Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, the first rounds were played. Participants were given an opponent and had to set up a time to play a series of three games.

Then, on Friday, the winners from the first rounds played. To get to the final four, participants had to play for the best out of five games. When it was down to the final two, the championship was played in a best out of seven game series.

Houskamp won the tournament, receiving a $25 check as his prize. Houskamp admitted that the only reason he joined was because his friends were, and has only recently become a frequent pool player.

“It was exciting to win,” said Houskamp, “even though the people I played at the end are normally better than me, and everyone expected them to win.”

But people did not have to be good pool players, or even in the tournament to get involved and have fun.  Many people, after being eliminated from the competition stuck around to watch.

“Some stayed, and some left,” said Donny Irving, commuter assistant. “It was about half and half.”

One reason many students stayed was because of the bracket challenge Irving put together. While competitors played, others were attempting to predict who would win the round.

“A lot of students who didn’t play watched just to see if their brackets were predicted right,” said Irving.

And the winner of the tournament was not the only one to get a prize.

“Whoever predicted the most right answers got a free pizza,” said Irving.

Mann won this contest.

“I have not yet received my pizza, but when I do, I will share it with my buddy Jon …” said Mann.

Irving planned the tournament to coincide with the March Madness NCAA college basketball tournament. Irving said that they wanted to do it at this time because it is “during the hype of tournament season.”

This event is one that Irving hopes will continue to be an annual event. Not only are students able to win prizes, they are able to come together in order to build community both within the circle of commuters and other students on campus.