The Student Entertainment Board’s (SEB) Up All Night program costs about $84,000 this year. The programs are put on as an alternative to drinking and partying, but some students believe the cost is too high.
Melanie Burt, programming adviser for Student Involvement and Leadership Development, said most Up All Nights have a budget of $7,000. The first and last have a budget of $14,000. The funding comes from Services and Activities Fees (S&A), into which each WSU student pays $512 per year.
Burt said about 600 people come to each event, with more coming depending on the programming. She said Casino Night and De-Stress Fest tend to draw larger crowds.
“I think we get a lot of returners within the same year,” she said. “We do have people who will come for very specific programs.”
Burt also said SEB tries to create programming that will appeal to all, including those off campus.
Suzi Fransen, a freshman communication major, said because she has such a busy schedule with her sorority, she cannot attend Up All Nights and thinks the money could be spent on other things. She said she is not surprised by the money spent, but the programming from week to week seems repetitive.
The program began in 2003, said Brian Shuffield, associate director for campus programming. The program has seen no increase or decrease in funding since that time.
“There is certainly some repeated attendance, but it speaks to the event that there is a want for that programming,” he said. “Students keep coming back. Year after year, we still draw those numbers.”
Riley Myklebust, ASWSU president and former SEB director, said because the budget is laid out in advance, specific performers or event details are not known. He said SEB lays out their budget and presents it to the senate in the spring of each year.
Shuffield said this year, SEB received about $450,000 in fundng.
“As a former SEB director, I believe Up All Nights serve as valuable non-alcoholic programming on Friday nights and are also highly attended by WSU’s international students,” Myklebust said.
Sophomore pre-med major Brayden Hadaller said the Up All Night programs may be worth the cost.
“It keeps kids busy and gives them something to do,” he said. “But I could see that money going toward something else.”
Sophomore biology major Samantha Williams said she went to one Up All Night last year and did not do anything because lines were so long.
“That money could be spent on other things,” she said.
