Students hoping to see a movie on campus will be dealing with some changes in the next month.
Although students will have to wait a bit longer for the campus movie offices to reopen, students soon will have two locations on campus to go to for Campus Center Cinemas, Director of Public Relations for the Residence Halls Association, or RHA, Abigail Bhattacharyya said.
It was announced at last week’s RHA meeting that the offices were opening, but this week, Director of Movie Offices Greg Rokisky said the reopening date is now set for the end of October.
The movie offices, which provide students with the opportunity to rent movies on campus, were frequently closed last year because of system failures.
Rokisky said he originally believed the outdated system would work until it could be replaced, but found the system was not usable when he turned the program on last week.
“Logistically, the ball was dropped on my end,” Rokisky said. “It just didn’t work out.”
Rokisky said he soon will meet with Residence Education and Housing Services to determine what updated systems will be available.
He said students can expect a grand reopening around Halloween, as well as new movies and a new system. IPads, which will be used to select and rent movies, are currently in RHA’s budget for the semester, although Rokisky could not confirm with certainty that they would be purchased.
“This little bump in the road is hopefully for a better future for the movie offices,” he said.
During the wait, however, students can enjoy movies through Campus Center Cinemas at two locations.
Akers Hall now will host the on-campus cinemas in addition to the current Wells Hall location.
Bhattacharyya said during the Wells Hall renovation, students expressed enjoyment about having more options to view movies on campus, so RHA, in partnership with the University Activities Board, looked into other options. She was unaware of any plans to expand the cinemas further.
“Wells will still be home to the majority of the movies, but we are adding a location for accessibility reasons,” RHA President Kelcey Gapske said in an email.
Bhattacharyya said in an email Campus Center Cinemas soon will offer complimentary snacks from a new popcorn machine and theater-style boxed candy.
Actuarial science senior Matt Dolinar said he likes the sound of the additional Campus Center Cinemas location in Akers Hall.
“It’s easier access for people who live in East (Neighborhood),” Dolinar said. “It’s a shorter walk, especially in the winter.”
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
