OHIO Late Nights is a new Saturday night program for students that includes activities such as scavenger hunts, movies, and free snacks.
For Ohio University students looking for an alternative activity on Saturday nights, OHIO Late Nights offers something different.
The Department of Housing and Residence Life premiered its new weekly program, OHIO Late Nights, for OU students earlier this semester.
The program, held on Saturdays from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., in the Living Learning Center on South Green, was developed after several employees of the department expressed they felt students needed more options for later in the weekend evenings, Sarah Olesky, director for residential education, said.
“We have a great new space at the Living Learning Center so we thought it was a great time to create a late night option on Saturdays for students,” Olesky said.
The first event, which took place over Labor Day weekend, had a higher attendance than expected, Olesky said.
“We anticipated a small crowd because of the Labor Day weekend, but approximately 200 students attended,” Olesky said. “Over 80 students participated in a campus-wide scavenger hunt.”
So far the department has spent $1,301.20 on snacks, prizes, one movie rental and other supplies for the first three programs, Olesky said.
According to the program’s Instagram account, activities vary each Saturday, but so far students have participated in scavenger hunts, played board games and card games, and sang karaoke.
Several students who have participated in previous events found it was a great experience and a worthwhile opportunity overall.
Carly Kay, a freshman studying business-pre law, said she attended the first program and enjoyed it.
“The event was a good opportunity to meet new people and to do something different on a Saturday night,” she said.
In comparison to other events on campus, Morgan Jaspers, a freshman studying photojournalism, said “the program is a nice way to get involved on campus, while in a laid back atmosphere.”
Housing and Residence Life will co-sponsor some events with the Campus Involvement Center later this fall, Olesky said. She added that the department is hoping to reach out to other departments and organizations on campus to co-sponsor OHIO Late Nights events as well.
The program has an Instagram account, which updates students with information on future programs.
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