AFTER MUCH ANTICIPATION, United for Uganda's junior/senior lock-in is to take place this Saturday and Sunday at Uni. Originally scheduled for Dec 8-9, the lock-in was postponed due to nasty weather.

Starting at 9 p.m. Saturday and continuing through 8 a.m. Sunday, the lock-in will feature many of the same events promised for the December date, and more. It will kick off with a dance in the first-floor hallway DJ-ed by senior UFU officer Marika Iyer until 11:30, with food, performances, and activities to follow.

Don't worry if you already bought a ticket in December, you're on the list senior UFU officer Shara Esbenshade sent out in an e-mail unless you asked for your money back.

Haven't bought a ticket yet? Well they are on sale through Friday for $20; UFU will be selling them in the hallways during lunch.

Sophomores are invited to attend the dance for $5, but they must leave promptly at 11:30.

Food selections will be greatly upgraded from previous lock-ins. This weekend, UFU officers have gotten a wide selection of restaurants to make donations. The list includes Seaboat, Red Lobster, Strawberry Fields, Za's, Zelma's, Noodles, and El Toro. Some of the fare will consist of cake from Radio Maria, Pocky Sticks from Gumby's, cookies from Potbelly's, and pastries from Pekara.

A live performance will feature University of Illinois student and musician Patrick Mustain, who will perform at midnight and speak with his fellow members of the University of Illinois' Invisible Conflicts about their experiences helping child soldiers in Uganda.

Activities at the lock-in will include a food-eating contest, fun games, movies, sports in Uni Gym, and a late, late night dance.

UFU is a student organization dedicated to helping the “invisible children” of northern Uganda.

For almost 20 years, as a civil war raged in Uganda, the Acholi tribe was brutalized by one of the armed factions, the Lord's Resistance Army. The LRA abducted children, ranging from the age of 3 to 17, and forced them to become child soldiers or sex slaves. Because of this, the Acholi children had to walk up to 13 miles to special camps for shelter and protection.

In 2006-07, UFU organized two lock-ins: one in November for juniors and seniors, and the other in January for underclassmen. The events raised nearly $4,000 toward helping former child soldiers in the East African country.

Proceeds from Saturday's lock-in will go to Come Let’s Dance, a grassroots organization that rehabilitates former child soldiers from Uganda's 20-yearlong civil war.

The DVD of Invisible Children will be on sale for $20, and UFU T-shirts for $5, with all proceeds going to the Come Let's Dance organization.

By attending this lock-in, you'll be having a load of fun while helping out some people in need. From all the hype these past two weeks, this event sounds very promising.