'Underground' will serve as 'safe' party spot tonight

Students can trade in alcohol for a root beer keg and drinking games for a round of Blackjack at tonight's UA Latenight.

UA Latenight, held from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. in Wilbur's Underground, is a night of prizes and activities that is sponsored by the Collaboration Board to keep students from drinking.

The Collaboration Board includes representatives from ASUA, the University Activities Board, Panhellenic Association, Interfraternity Council, Residence Housing Association and Student Media.

"It's really a safe alternative to going out," said Sara Birnbaum, ASUA senator.

She said that Dead Day is one of the most popular drinking nights but with UAPD cracking down on underage drinking, UA Latenight will be providing fun and safe substitutes for students.

"We're hoping the event will reach the night crowds that might go to bars," said Greg Billings, UAB director.

Soral Karim, the ASUA senator who was in charge of organizing UA Latenight, said the event serves as a supplement to Birnbaum's attempts at improving community and university relations.

"It's an event we can put on to deter students from going out and partying," he said. "It's pretty awesome that so many different students and organizations are working

together toward one goal."

Students who go to UA Latenight can also expect sumo wrestling, free door prizes, a video game tournament, comedy shows, various DJs to dance to, and a UA athletics presentation.

It's free, free, free. - ASUA Senator Soral Karim

Door prizes include DVDs, certificates to various restaurants and CDs. UA athletics will also be giving out their own prizes.

Starting at midnight, students can go to the Gallagher Theater for a free showing of "Old School."

Students are also encouraged to dress up in 1980s attire, as the theme of the night is Dead Day Through the Decades.

"It's worth going to mainly because it's a good cause, and there is an event for everyone," Karim said.

He said there was also another incentive for students to come and join the party.

"It's free, free, free," he said.

Birnbaum said that if the event is successful, students could expect to see similar events held every weekend.

She said she is hoping 300 students show up to the event.

"We're hoping that if anything the event will give students a reason to come back from partying or not go at all," Karim said.

He said he thinks UA Latenight will play a role in decreasing underage drinking among students who live on campus.

Cole Adamson, an economics junior, said that anytime girls and guys are together, they will have a good time, but he added that the Collaboration Board probably will not achieve its goals.

"I don't think it will make a big impact on underage drinking," Adamson said.

Other students thought it was worth a try.

"It's a good effort on their part," said Nicole Argandona, a criminal justice junior.

Birnbaum said that if the night is successful, the board plans on holding UA Latenight every weekend for the rest of the school year.

The Collaboration Board will have to fund raise roughly $20,000 in order to continue holding the weekend activities.

Tonight's activities cost $4,000, funding that came from the budgets of the different organizations involved in the Collaboration Board.

"Ideally, we will want more clubs involved so they can each sponsor one night," she said.

She also hopes that if the night is successful, future lobbying efforts for funding will be successful.

Campus Health has already offered to fund future events, Birnbaum said.

The idea for UA Latenight has been talked about in the past, but this is the first year that the event has actually taken off.