Weekends for some students consist of kegs and house parties, but more students this fall are putting away their six-packs in favor of tubs of popcorn and attending Campus Center movies at Wells Hall.
Graduate student Erica Benson said she is a regular because there are no theaters close to campus.
“I watch at least one movie a weekend, sometimes two,” she said. “They show good movies that are cheap and close.”
After the first six weekends of movie showings, Residence Halls Association officials reported a 66 percent increase in attendance compared to the same period last year.
James Henderson, assistant director of Campus Center Cinemas, said along with notable movie titles, new advertising techniques draw students in.
During spring 2002, RHA’s movie program was unable to pay its 33 employees after RHA officials reported the $82,500 movie budget ran out in February. Budget problems caused volunteers to work at the Campus Center to keep the movies running.
But Henderson said he is ecstatic about this year’s strong start.
“Our goal is to double last fall’s attendance,” he said. “We’ve had a few weeks where we had movies people really wanted to see.”
Movies cost $2 for nonstudents, $2 for off-campus students and are free for students living in dorms.
Spanish junior Valerie Kaiser said living off campus doesn’t stop her from watching movies.
“I normally don’t even watch movies, but it gives me something to do,” she said. “Cost is important, but being able to see my friends on campus is my biggest draw.”
