Pitt-Johnstown Programming Board members are working to provide weekend opportunities for students.

Student Affairs and Campus Development Chair Stephen Torquato has worked with Student Government and Programming Board to create a weekend events calendar for the spring semester.

“The idea was started to try and get more options for students on campus,” said Torquato.

A survey was sent to students via email near the beginning of the semester asking for feedback on which events students would enjoy on weekends. The survey received over 150 responses.

Student Life Director Sherri Rae shared the survey results.

A total of 74 percent of survey respondents said there are not enough options for weekend fun on campus and 92 percent said they would participate in weekend activities sponsored by UPJ.

“Director Sherri Rae and I created a rough schedule of events,” said Torquato. “We are using the spring semester as a trial run.”

Each weekend next semester, a movie is to play in Blackington Hall on Friday nights. The movies are to be recent releases.

“We are possibly doing another survey just for movies to get people interested,” said Torquato.

Along with Friday movie nights, on-campus and off-campus events are to take place each Saturday.

Saturday events are to include live acts and bus trips to places such as Pittsburgh and New York City.

“It’s all still rough,” said Torquato. “The spring concert falls into the schedule, along with different bus trips to different places, such as an outlet mall.”

In response to the survey, students found discounted new-release movie screenings to be most appealing. Other potential weekend events may include: ice-skating, snow tubing and paintball. Other events may include live comedians, music and bowling.

“We are catering this to the students,” said Torquato. “By no means are we trying to take away from Greek life. People did feel there was a need for more.”

Pitt-Johnstown student Ben Grieco said he feels the idea is necessary.

“It seems more relaxed,” said Grieco. “It’s somewhere to go where you can just hang out, instead of making such a night of things.”

Pitt-Johnstown Freshman Brooke Boyer said she agrees that the Programming Board weekend events will be low-key compared to Greek life.

Torquato said his goal is to give students opportunities that are out of the ordinary.