Clement Dossin keeps busy during last year's UFU lock-in. Gargoyle photo (click to enlarge)

URBANA — Looking for something to do over the weekend? Your friendly neighborhood UFU — United for Uganda — has a solution.

The student group will be hosting a lock-in from 9 p.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Sunday for all juniors and seniors (sophomores are welcome until midnight).

Kicking off with a dance on the first floor, students can dance the night away … or at least until 11 p.m., when the lock-in will transition to some great food and music by local artist and UFU supporter Patrick Mustain.

Afterward, a fun game of midnight dodgeball, followed by a midnight snack.

And not just any snack. Local eateries like Pekara Bakery and Bistro and Monical's and Fiesta Café are contributing everything from pizza to desserts.

If you can move after all that food, there will be movies and games until dawn.

Haven't bought a ticket yet? You can purchase them at the door from 9 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets for juniors and seniors cost $25. Sophomores pay $10, but they must leave promptly at midnight. Don't feel like you're missing out by leaving early, however — all your money will still go to a great cause.

This is the third year that UFU has sponsored a lock-in (there were two in 2006-07 and one last year). All proceeds will benefit the grassroots organization Come Let's Dance, a nonprofit working in Uganda to alleviate hunger and poverty in various communities.

UFU is a student organization dedicated to helping orphans and others in need in Uganda. Originally associated with the organization Invisible Children, UFU was formed in 2006 to raise money and awareness for victims of the Lord's Resistance Army, who abducted children for use as child soldiers or sex slaves.

Senior Caroline Brown, UFU vice president, says the group's mission is to "raise money, as well as educate both [UFU] members and the community."

She says it's not enough just to raise money for a cause; people need to be informed of world events, in this case, the plight in Uganda.

"It's been going on for a really long time, and we've had this organization for a few years, and there's still a lot of people who don't necessarily understand exactly what's going on there," Brown said. "I think it's important to be educated about what's going on in the world."

Last year's lock-in raised more than $1,000 to donate to Come Let's Dance and Invisible Children. Brown says that every year's lock-in is a little bit different because there are different leaders every year, but that there are no significant changes from 2008. It's guaranteed to be a lot of fun, so make sure to come!

Lock-in at a glance: schedule of events

• 9-9:30 p.m. — Arrive
• 9-11 p.m. — Dance (UFU members help set up snacks)
• 11 p.m.-midnight — Music by Patrick Mustain and snacking
• midnight-12:30 a.m. — Sophomores leave
• midnight-1:30 a.m. — Midnight dodgeball in Uni Gym (UFU members prepare main meal)
• 1:30-2:30 a.m. — Main meal, PowerPoint, down time
• 2:30-3:30 a.m. — "Invisible Children" documentary/"Blood Diamond" (permission slip required)
• 3:30-6 a.m. — Movies, games, snacks, sleep (UFU members keep kitchen clean and help serve snacks, also prepare kitchen for breakfast)
• 6-7 a.m. — Mr. Stone breakfast and possibly walk, clean up
• 7-7:30 a.m. — Pick up and go home (UFU members all stay and clean up until)

Annie Machesky samples the ice cream at last year's lock-in. Gargoyle photos (click to enlarge)

Participants can expect plenty of goodies again this year.

Playing cards is a lock-in mainstay.

History teacher Chris Butler at the 2008 lock-in.