University officials who manage the Late Night Fund, which began last semester as a pilot program to provide alcohol-free weekend activities, have requested that the University Resources Committee create permanent funding for the program, said Shelley Adriance, coordinator for student activities.
Adriance, a member of the Late Night Fund Board, said she "hopes (the fund) continues because we feel it really meets a need" for alcohol-free events.
The fund was created last year in response to "issues with students drinking" and complaints that there "weren't a lot of things to do that weren't alcohol-focused" on weekends, said Director of Student Activities Ricky Gresh. Funding was "made available to do a pilot (program) in the spring," he said, noting that though the fund financed one event in February, it really "got going in March."
Last spring the fund supported about 10 events, including a dinner and dance thrown by the Persian Club, a movie night and a Korean culture show, according to Gresh.
The fund has financed several events this semester, including a campout on Lincoln Field, and more events are lined up for the rest of the semester. On Dec. 1 there will be a Karaoke and Art Exhibit Night from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. in Arnold Lounge. On Dec. 2 the Haitian Student Association will use the fund to hold a dance party featuring Haitian music and food at the Underground.
The Late Night Fund board, which administers the program, is currently made up of two advisers and students representing Greek Council, the Student Union and program houses, as well as an at-large student representative, according to Wendy Chen '09, the Student Union representative. There are still openings for a student representing cultural groups and another representing the Undergraduate Council of Students.
The board listens to ideas from student groups for alcohol-free events that would take place on Fridays or Saturdays at late hours, Adriance said. "The board really looks to just take a great idea and make it work" through a dialogue with the student group, she said.
"Every meeting is a brainstorming process," Chen wrote in an e-mail to The Herald.
The board tries "to fund as much as possible" and to create events that are free for students, Adriance said. The fund gets requests that run up to a couple thousand dollars, and the most the fund has spent on a single event is "around $2,500," though costs can run as low as $150 for events like a movie night, she said.
"More often, I see the board asking, 'Are you sure you don't need more?'" Adriance said.
"We want them to focus on planning a good event" and not to worry about money, Gresh said of group leaders. Many student groups, including Category I groups that don't get funding from Brown, are eligible for the Late Night Fund, so the fund can help them throw larger events than they might otherwise, Gresh said.
The Late Night Fund hasn't "targeted based on the calendar" to compete with events like Sex Power God. "The idea is we want something every weekend," Adriance said.
Chen told The Herald that the Late Night Fund "encourages student groups to get creative" and that "everyone involved strongly believes in our simple mission" to provide fun and unique social events with "the interests and needs of the campus in mind." She added that experience in event planning isn't necessary to propose an idea to the board. "If you have an idea that you're excited about ... we'll help you make it happen."
