Students 'kick it old school' at Late Knights event

The Student Union was transformed into a time machine Friday night taking students back to the time where Slime Time Live ruled and everyone was dancing to the tunes of the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears.

On the last Friday night of every month Late Knights takes over the campus with free activities, food and music. Hundreds of UCF students were in attendance and many in costume for the “Kickin’ it Old School” themed event.

Junior advertising and public relations major Ksenia Leyvi decided to make the most of her Friday night by attending Late Knights. She also dressed the part in a ’90s-inspired costume.

“It looked like fun; we always try to go out to these events,” Leyvi said. “I think it’s cute, which is why we dressed up for it.”

The activities began for students with a station to spray paint T-shirts outside of the Student Union. The foyer was decked out in the theme as students were greeted with a magician showing off his sleight of hand and a variety of videogames already playing.

“It’s a pretty large turnout, it looks like it’s going to be a few hundred people,” said freshman computer engineering major and Late Knights volunteer Ryan McAfee. “It’s always jam-packed because there’s a lot of free stuff to be given out.”

Vendors lined the halls giving out prizes and goodies. Good times continued down the hall in the Pegasus Ballroom with a roller skating rink, DJ, arcade games and inflatable twister. Students took a break at midnight and were treated with some free food.

“I think every Late Knights is unique because of the theme,” said Nicole Baker a graduate assistant for Homecoming and Late Knights. “We really try to center everything around the theme to make it different. Of course we do tonight, to tie in theme, have the alcohol alternative station.”

The Wellness Center hosted healthy games and gave out prizes to participants. Among the games was an activity that demonstrated the effects of drinking on your visual senses. Students wore the “beer goggles” and attempted to pass a driving under the influence test.

Approaching its tenth year, Late Knights remains committed to providing a safe and fun alcohol alternative for UCF students. The events are planned by an all-student committee. Students volunteer to help run the event and activities also.

“It has the alcohol-alternative component, which is really important, it gives people something to do on a Friday night that’s not going out and going to the bars,” said Late Knights adviser Stephanie Abell. “It’s an opportunity to come with their groups of friends and do things on campus for those who can’t travel off campus.”