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| LateNight@WWU | |||
LateNight@WWU attempts to shift the campus environment by increasing alcohol-free options on campus during hours when students typically leave campus or engage in high-risk drinking. The goal of LateNight@WWU is to increase the availability of and student participation in late-night activities on campus in an effort to:
- Increase student perception of the WWU as a social community
- Decrease the number of students participating in off–campus parties
- Decrease alcohol misuse
In December 2004, a WWU interdepartmental collaboration involving the Viking Union, Associated Students, Wade King Student Recreation Center, Residence Life, New Student Services, Prevention and Wellness Services, and Dining Services began to design a sustainable structure for increasing late night activities at Western.
This collaboration resulted in a fall quarter 2005 series of activities attended by 2,500 WWU students that was hosted by the Viking Union, Wade King Student Recreation Center, Athletic Department, and the AS Club Western Sound System Federation. Activities included speed dating, concerts, a chocolate fountain, laser tag, and cooking shows. The majority of participants who completed satisfaction surveys were freshmen and sophomores living on campus.
Additional LateNight@WWU programs have included partnering with Associated Students Films to show films that start at 11:00 pm and extending the hours at the Viking Union Underground Coffeehouse until midnight throughout the week.
Offering alternative, alcohol-free late night events benefit the campus community by:
- Promoting social development of students
- Exposing students to facilities and resources available to them
- Connecting students to clubs and organizations
- Providing leadership opportunities for students
- Supporting collaboration among campus departments
- Potentially contributing to creating environments that reduce the perception that high–risk drinking is a campus norm
