Fame 'Becomes' Late Night

Friday night rolled around, and the Student Union was the usual center of activity. Some may be drawn here by the promise of fun and others might just want a burrito, but students end up in the "social hub of campus" more often than not on the weekends. Whether it's a legitimate alternative to the typical UConn parties or a haven for oblivious freshmen, UConn Late Night - formerly Husky Howl - is certainly quite a spectacle.

With the roaring, off-key karaoke and the crush of yammering bodies, the Union Street Marketplace became a mess of echoing sounds throughut the evening. Case of night-owl munchies are a typical pull for Late Night and Friday night was no exception.

The line for wings stretched out past the market doorway and students chomped chili dogs while cheering for their friends' hoarse falsettos. The cafeteria is arguably the most popular part of Late Night, and many students only show up for the food.

"I'm just here for dessert," said Brenna Harvey, a 3rd-semester English and Fine Arts major, as she ate Dairy Bar ice cream.

Throughout the rest of the Union, the ostensible draws of Late Night - take-home crafts and silly performances - plied their charms. "Fame Becomes U" was the night's theme, according to the Late Night Web site, though the links between the activities were tenuous. Lines of students formed behind a pair of metal dance pads for Dance Dance Revolution, an energetic mix of stamina, dexterity and the willingness to look like a fool in front of complete strangers. The general attitude, and one that seemed repeated throughout the night, was one of enjoyable self-awareness.

Near the DDR pads was a table serving mocktails, though it was taken down by 10:30 p.m. Late Night's use of mocktails is an interesting choice, given the unspoken university policy of using Late Night as an alternative to the infamous alcohol-fueled off-campus UConn parties. Nevertheless, the drinks seemed innocuous enough, according to students in attendance.

"The mocktails taste just like Hi-C," said Josh Faucher, a 3rd-semester pathobiology major. "But I actually like Hi-C!"

Unlike last year's Husky Howl, Late Night is confined to the first floor of the building. In the spacious lobby, students engaged in a variety of novelties, including airbrush tattoos, and the inscrutably named "Hollywood Hands" and "Funky Heads." Neither, as it turned out, were particularly novel. "Funky Heads" was a camera and green screen contraption where students could have their heads projected on top of amusing music videos, while "Hollywood Hands" was a throwback to elementary school crafts in the form of plaster molds of students' hands decorated with paint and glitter. On the plus side, the lines so typical of Late Night were nowhere to be seen on Friday night and most of the activities were accessible to students in a short time.

Despite the below-average turnout, most students appeared to be having an enjoyable time overall, mingling with friends and enjoying the general atmosphere.

"It's fun, it's free and it probably keeps some havoc under control," said Crystal Fontain, a 1st-semester math major, while sporting her new airbrush tattoo.

Contact John Bailey at John.C.Bailey@UConn.edu.