Food is provided at a discount of 70 percent off regular prices. The After Dark initiative is a proactive response to studies that show student alcohol consumption rises on weekend evenings. Since piloting the After Dark events during the 1999-2000 school year, interest and participation has skyrocketed. During the past autumn semester, approximately 2500 students attended an after dark event. Funding for activities is provided by the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, with additional support for food provided by the Office of Finance and Business Services.
Priority is given to events which go beyond midnight.
Groups who collaborate among departments and involve students in designing and implementing events are given preference. Smaller colleges such as Lake Erie College, near Cleveland and Wilmington College, near Cincinnati are working collaboratively with their neighboring communities to provide activities on weeknights. The local YMCA offers late night activities from 10 p.m.-12 a.m. three times a week. Thursday nights have become a night on the town for students at Lake Erie College. The college provides students with tickets for free admission to movies, musicals, plays, operas and all arts events in downtown Cleveland through a grant from the Kulas foundation.