Campus hosts sober events like Friday Knight Dry for students
Alex Weiss | Staff Writer | aweiss@mail.smcvt.edu
For the first time, the Student Government Association and Residence Life set up two Friday Knight Dry events in the same semester: one at the beginning of the semester, and one on Halloween weekend. Friday Knight Dry is held from six to midnight, as a space for students to go instead of attending the parties across campus. In addition to Friday Knight Dry, the college provides weekly dry events on campus, “there are like twelve programs a week, maybe a little more than that,” said Jeff Vincent, Director of Residence Life and Community Standards. “We also have programs in GREAT, GEAR, and LGBTQ+ housing, so our themed housing has special programs that don’t happen every week.”
The issue that arises is participation and feedback. “There can always be more [events], and one of the things we are often missing is ‘what do students want to do?’ So, there might be an idea of what we think students like, but that’s not necessarily what they want to do,” said Vincent.
Some students feel as though there needs to be more sober opportunities throughout the year. “We are planning a lot of other events. We have a collaboration with late night grilling on November 18th. I’m hoping, and in contact with Cairns arena, to set up a skate night for December 2-if not definitely next semester,”said Amy Hylen ’25, Co-Secretary of the SGA. “We are going to get the rink out by the 300s which is a fan favorite, we are also working on getting frisbee golf a 9th hole, and finally a pep rally for the class of 2024 which will happen during the men’s and women’s double header basketball games on November 16.”
When asked about the responsibility and obligation Saint Michael’s has for hosting sober activities, Vincent said, “Definitely, we absolutely do. There’s a perception versus a reality. There are only about 125 students that actually live in the 300s, so let’s say another 300 people are in the 3s. If there are 300 people in the corner, we would have a problem, that is a big crowd. Where are the other thousand students? We have 1,400 students, where are the other thousand students? The perception is ‘Everyone does that’, but it’s not true. So yeah, we definitely have an obligation to provide many options, not just Res life but student life as well.”
This past Friday Knight Dry was held on all three floors of Dion, and included a pumpkin carving contest, mini golf, cotton candy, popcorn and a haunted house set up by the drama club. It would later be moved into Alliot for a concert performed by the on-campus club, Underground Turtle, and end with a raffle containing prizes, such as Apple AirPods.
However, once a semester is not enough, students want more. “It is a great way for people to meet without partying,” said Emily Dufour-Woznicki ’25. “It would be nice to have it more than once a semester, but no more than twice, it would be overwhelming and not special.”
Residence Life and SGA have a multitude of ideas, yet are hesitant to bring those ideas to fruition. In the past, there was a bus program called “The Bus to Nowhere” where students could be dropped off at the University mall and downtown. Then later in the night the bus would circle back to pick them up. “There have been thoughts of bringing it back, but, what students would use it and what would it cost?” Vincent said, “I do think that more engagement from the students about what they want would also be helpful. RA’s have family meetings and ask these questions along with the SGA putting out surveys as well.”