Saluki Expo attracts large crowds

By Sun Min

More than 2,000 people attended the second annual Saluki Expo and Brunch during the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament on Saturday, March 8 at the St. Louis Hilton at the Ballpark Hotel. 

The marketing department of SIU College of Business, the SIU Department of Marketing External Advisory Board and the SIU Alumni Association sponsored the event, which featured booths by University departments, SIUC-affiliated organizations and businesses including Anheuser-Busch and Delta Dental, to name a few. 

“Despite our team's loss Friday, the feeling was warm as SIU fans still came together for the Saluki expo and brunch on Saturday morning,” said Michael Davids, chair of the Department of Marketing External Advisory Board and president and editor of McD Media in Downers Grove.  “We were all saddened by the team's setback but it felt good to be with family to share our Saluki Pride and reflect on the many great accomplishments of SIU.”

The event also included a Saluki Nation "Pep Rally" featuring SIU President Glenn Poshard and SIU Athletic Director Mario Moccia. 

"From looking at the size of the crowd and the interest they had in the Expo, you would never have known the Salukis were not playing that day.  The Saluki Expo and Brunch was a huge success again this year and the most memorable moment for me was Dr. Poshard thanking the Men's Basketball Team for a hard fought year," said Bryan T. Stinchfield, coordinator of the conference. 

“This has become a wonderful tradition and the expo was yet another proud Saluki moment for us all,” said Terry Clark, chair of the Department of Marketing and Director of Barking Dawg Productions, SIU’s in-house marketing group.