Whitney Cyr
Managing Executive Editor
Midnight Madness is notorious for being a celebration of school spirit, kicking off the KSC’s basketball team’s season, and the site of students’ often booze-fueled antics. This year, however, the Saturday before Pumpkin Fest will just be another night of the weekend.
As a result of budget cuts this year, the Student Center, which would typically fund the yearly event in the gym, will not be able to finance it.
“If we were to do Midnight Madness, the funds would be taken out of student fees, and that’s never been done before,” Student Body Vice President Katelyn Williams said.
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Student Body President Colin Daly explained Student Government would pay for the free t-shirts, while the Student Center usually covered the rest of the costs of putting on the event.
“We decided it wasn’t best for the school right now,” Williams said. “With the giveaways, DJ costs, t-shirts, the cost of the space and maintenance, it would take a lot to put on the event.”
Daly recognizes how popular the event is, but Midnight Madness has “grown out of proportion with what Student Government would like,” he said. “Nobody can argue that it’s not a great event, but has it gotten too big?”
Daly emphasized that Student Government’s role is not to put on big events, but it is advocating the needs of both on- and off-campus students in an academic way.
“Student Activities Council (SAC) handles social events,” Daly said. “Midnight Madness is a fun event, but Student Government is trying to push away from putting on social events.” Daly said, “While students may say it’s a tradition, it has only been going on for about 10 years, and we have to be ready for a change.”
While something may not be happening in Oct., Daly is looking forward to having some sort of pep rally or event in the spring that might encompass more than just one KSC athletic team.
“We approved a student organization last year, called Owl Nation, which would be in charge of possibly organizing busses that would take fans to certain athletic events. This would be the pep rally organization,” he said.
Daly said that while Midnight Madness is off, certain events, like Chalk Talk in the spring, are still on.
“Students are going to get upset, but there are other events this year,” Williams said.
In addition to a lack of funding and Student Government’s new initiative to move away from coordinating social events, Daly said there’s also concern with students who show up intoxicated.
“In past years, the line going outside the door gets crazy. We don’t want to fund an event where students can be very intoxicated,” Daly said.
He also said there’s an increased danger with drunk students waiting in line outside the gym because it makes it more difficult for Campus Safety to enforce.
“It should be a pep rally to show KSC pride,” Williams said, agreeing with Daly that student safety played a factor in the decision.
“Three dollar t-shirts are not worth something getting hurt over,” Daly said. In addition, Daly said he has seen “people leaving halfway through once they’ve gotten their free t-shirt.” Daly said it was a long process to decide to discontinue Midnight Madness, but everyone in Student Government came to the agreement as a result of funding and heading in a new direction as an organization. Kaleigh Liupakka, secretary of Student Assembly and junior class vice president, said she was disappointed Midnight Madness was not going to be put on this year.
“The event was more for school spirit and it sets the basketball season out right,” she said.
She suggested that costs could be cut down in various ways in order to still have the event take place.
“We could get a student who DJ’s on the weekends to DJ the event and the giveaways could be smaller,” she said. She said she was holding a meeting on Thursday at 8 p.m. in the lobby of the Student Organizations office to create awareness that there is no Midnight Madness this year.
“We might not have Midnight Madness, but we could have some sort of pep rally that fits what students want, but on a budget.” Liupakka also said that hearing the news of not having a Midnight Madness “was kind of a blindside,” she said. “No one expected this.”
Rob Colbert, the men’s basketball coach, said he was also disappointed when he heard the news Midnight Madness was being discontinued this year.
“I understand why funding was cut down. I’m disappointed for students and athletes,” he said.
Colbert said Midnight Madness is one of the largest student gatherings and events on campus, and “it’s neat to have our athletes know they have the support of the student body, but they won’t have it this year.”
Colbert said he also shared the concerns of Student Government with students showing up to Midnight Madness intoxicated. “That was one of the major concerns,” he said. Colbert also mentioned one of his players, junior Nicco DiMasco, put up flyers in an attempt to save Midnight Madness this year.
“I’m proud of Nicco, he was genuinely upset, and to have the wherewithal to do something about it is really neat,” he said. “Midnight Madness is one of the biggest events of the year,” DiMasco said. DiMasco said he put up posters around campus because many people he spoke to didn’t know it wasn’t happening. As far as the budget concerns, DiMasco said there could be a way to work around it in order to still have the event.
“Not everyone goes to Midnight Madness to drink, and cancelling the whole event is preposterous,” he said.
Rashad Wright, a junior member of the basketball team, said Midnight Madness was a tradition and he’s not pleased it won’t be happening this year.
“It’s a good way to get people excited for the upcoming season,” he said. “Our whole team is very disappointed about it.”
Wright also said his team enjoys the competitions held at Midnight Madness and the chance to be supported by the KSC student body.
“I feel like we have a very big freshmen class, so they deserve to experience it,” Wright said. “I think it’s going to be one of the biggest years for us this year, success-wise.” He also recognized the concern for student safety at the event as well. “It’s a valid point, it can’t be ignored,” he said. Wright also understands why it had to be cancelled as a result of funding, but he said he still has hopes things might turn around in the future. Amanda Rizzo, a senior, said she was very disappointed as well. “The school doesn’t rally around any other sports, so it’s nice to have Midnight Madness for the school spirit.”
Bridget Hennessy, a senior, said not having Midnight Madness this year doesn’t bother her.
“The school spirit will be missed,” she said. “It’s a kickoff to the basketball season and gets them support, so that will also be missed.” Hennessey said she only went her freshman year to the event and is shocked it’s not being put on again this year.
“Why don’t any of the other sports get a pep rally?” Hennessey suggested. “I think if they integrated all the sports, it would be much better.”
While the student body may be disappointed the event won’t be held this year, Student Government and other organizations on campus will be working towards putting it on next year or coming up with some sort of event in the spring to replace it. Either way, Owl fans have reason to be disappointed this Oct..
Whitney Cyr can be contacted at wcyr@keene-equinox.com