West Virginia University has always been known for its active social scene and WVUp All Night is one of the many school-sponsored programs that keep this rep alive.
Up All Night is an alternative program for students to experience fun away from the dorm rooms and those never-ending piles of homework.
WVUp All Night schedules include events such as bowling, movies and go-cart races.
WVUp All Night has been up and running since the spring of 1998.
Members of Student Affairs founded the program with help from Ken Gray, vice president of Student Affairs.
With 12 years of experience under its belt, it's easy to see why WVUp All Night has been bringing in crowds as colossal as 3,000 students per night, according to Sonja Wilson, event coordinator.
"Up All Night is a great way for the students to get out of the dorms for a night," Wilson said. "It gives them a chance to experience something new and also meet some new people, even if they're not into the ‘bar' scene."
Admittance to the event is as simple as carrying a WVU ID.
Students are allowed one guest over the age of 18, regardless of whether they attend WVU.
Being an event coordinator for such a popular program could seem a bit overwhelming, but with variety, creativity and input from the students themselves, Wilson has managed to keep things fresh and new.
"To get an idea of what the students want as far as
activities and themes go, we run several surveys and produce ideas from the results," said Wilson. "Keeping the students entertained is a main key in keeping Up All Night as successful as it's been."
Other planned events for the program include free food, theme nights and comedic performances, among others
Theme Nights have become a popular part of WVUp All Night with themes such as "Hollywood Night" and "Carnival Night."
Movies are a huge part of the WVUp All Night agenda and always attract a huge crowd.
"We always show movies that we know will be a big hit with the audience," said Erin Blake, movie coordinator.
One of the three movies shown a weekend is referred to as the "Midnight Movie."
Sticking with a spookier theme, movies chosen for this slot are popular cult films.
"It's good for the students to experience a movie they might not see on their own, especially on a huge screen" said Blake.
Rather than just giving students an opportunity for some excitement and fun, WVUp All Night is also a chance for employment.
The program even offers numerous internships and job opportunities.
WVUp All Night is held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night.
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