Students gathered near the Merrill Science Building on the night of Sept. 8 for a pleasant break from add-drop hysteria. Those who headed to the freshman quad were in for a sweet surprise as they discovered parked in front of Stirn Auditorium an ice cream truck handing out free Ben & Jerry’s Peace Pops, Dove bars, Hoodsie Cups, Häagen Dazs bars and other assorted frozen goodies.

Continuing onward, students found their way to O’Connor Commons, located in the Charles Pratt Basement, where a mini golf course had been laid out for friendly competition.

This unique evening, organized by Social Council and sponsored by Social Council and Student Activities, was a part of a pilot program entitled “Amherst After Dark.” Students responded positively to the inaugural event this past Thursday, which was well attended.

“It’s a really great way to bring people together and relax after a hectic week of classes,” said Briana Hanny ’13. “It’s very good of the College to organize something like this for us.”

“It really brought out the child in me,” added Bianca Routt ’14. “It’s great to connect with that side of you at college sometimes, in a social and fun manner. Plus, free ice cream is something every college student appreciates!”

“I’m enjoying the mini golf a lot, we don’t do a lot of things like this on campus often,” said Maia Cole ’14.

Amherst After Dark aims to offer opportunities to registered student organizations to host other such events on Saturday nights between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., offering collaborations with Student Activities and limited funding for event proposals.
The aim of this program is to provide consistent social options to students of the College with interesting and interactive events. Conditions for inclusion of an event in the program require that the event must include interactive or social components, maintain free admissions, use the AC After Dark logo in their publicity and be open to all students. Events must also provide free food to those in attendance and ensure no alcohol will be served.

A list of available dates as well as an application form for inclusion of an event in the program is available in the Amherst website, under Campus Life.
Students enjoyed an alternative social evening featuring ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s and a nine-hole mini golf course.
The next few events planned under Amherst After Dark include a Letter Writing Social on Sept. 16 at the Friedmann Room at Keefe Campus Center, which will include typewriters, wax seals and quill pens and tea and snacks, organized by Student Activities, and Crafts and Cookies on Sept. 24, also at Keefe. On Sept. 30, they will feature Trivial Pursuit and Pie.