Nightly events at Norris University Center have been cut to two nights per week this year, in an attempt by the Campus Activities Office to boost attendance.
The office also has created Norris Days, randomly held days when students who enter Norris sporting special smiley-face buttons will win prizes. Norris Days kicked off Monday, with a Titanic blow-up slide, an iceberg obstacle course and an Aerospin spinning ride on the Norris south lawn.
A man on stilts and Campus Activities Office employees passed out more than 1,000 purple buttons — which later will earn students prizes — and Cracker Jack boxes.
Norris Days is one part of the new Norris programming, which now includes Unfiltered on Tuesday nights and The Spot on Thursday nights. Last year’s Norris@Nite program ran five to six nights a week.
“Norris@Nite was a good program and served its purpose, but it got old,” said Paul Wolansky, associate director of campus activities and programs. “Attendance at the new activities so far has exceeded expectations. We had over 120 people at last week’s The Spot. No event with Norris@Nite last year had that many people.”
Unfiltered will take on a coffeehouse format featuring food and entertainment such as an open mic night and a Latino poetry slam. Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter Barbara Bailey Hutchinson will perform 8:30 to 10 p.m. tonight.
The Spot will feature larger-scale entertainment, though not all the events will be held at Norris.
“We’re not doing programs that are old and jaded,” Wolansky said. “We’re looking for up-and-coming acts — what the college scene should be.”
Some students agreed that it was time for a change at Norris. Although many of them said they didn’t attend the Norris@Nite events last year, they said they’re open to new ideas this year.
“Last year I think people knew about Norris@Nite but didn’t go to any of the events,” said Weinberg junior Mathew Philip. “This year, though, people have heard about the change, and are excited about it.”
But some students said they don’t have enough time to attend Norris events.
“I never really had time to go to events last year,” said Speech junior David Riemenschneider. “There was just too much stuff and it all seemed to blend together.”
And that’s why the Campus Activities Office decided to cut some events and make the remaining ones better. The office aims to make Norris more than just a place to eat and study, office workers said.
“I want students to know that this is their student union, that they can enjoy themselves,” Wolansky said. “We’re sponsoring a positive energy and a sense of community.”
The new programming, especially Norris Days, is aimed at promoting this kind of spontaneous fun.
“We are really excited about this year,” said Aimee Rivera, coordinator of student organizations and programs. “Norris is different this year. The first events we’ve had have drawn hundreds of people. Norris is about ready to explode.”
