Movie nights return to twice a month, price increases to $2

The University Activities Council has decided to permanently increase the cost of its $1 movie night to $2 twice monthly.

According to Amy Russo, a senior broadcast journalism major from Pace, Florida, and president of the UAC, the decision to raise the cost of the event was made for budgetary reasons and as an effort to save money for the organization.

“While students are paying only $2, we  (the UAC) are paying the rest of it ($5.50),” Russo said. “It was costing us a lot of money, especially when students don’t go all the time.”

The UAC tested its $2 event during the last movie night at the end of the 2017 spring semester.

According to UAC adviser Derrick Brew­ster, assistant dean of student services, the turnout was smaller than normal with only 900 students in attendance compared to the average 1,000 to 1,200 students.

Brewster said he does not think the lower attendance resulted from increased cost.

“I think it’s more of, as I told UAC members, a reflection of there not being a good selection of movies and bad weather,” Brewster said.

Amy Russo also suggested that the decrease in student numbers was due to it being the second movie night of the month, which tends to have a lower turnout rate.

Brewster said that even with the increased cost, students are still getting a good deal on movie ticket prices.

“It’s still an opportunity for the students to come out and watch a movie at a reduced price,” Brewster said. “It’s still an opportunity for them to have a cheap date.

“Where else would you be able to go and eat at a nice dining facility — the dining hall — and use your swipes to eat dinner? We have the transit system so you don’t have to drive and can save on gas, and then you pay $4 to watch a movie, compared to having to pay $18 along with any refreshments you decide to have at the movie theater.”

While the UAC origially planned to host $2 movie night only once a month, after further discussion on Tuesday, Aug. 15, both Continental Cinemas and the UAC agreed upon having $2 movie night two times a month.

“This is a very important part of our business, and I want to take care of (the university) in the best way that I can,” said Chase Taylor, vice president of Continental Cinemas.

Brewster estimated that the UAC’s savings from increasing the ticket cost to $2 is around $3,000 per movie night.

Russo said the money the UAC saves on ticket costs will go toward funding other events for students, such as Camp Butter and Egg, Skate Night and two Casino Nights.

The first $2 movie night of the semester will be Wednesday, Aug. 23.

Shuttles will pick up at 6:15 p.m., 6:45 p.m., 8:15 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.

Two movie nights this semester, on Oct. 17 and Nov. 14,  will be on Tuesday instead of Wednesday.