By AnnaBelle Boone / The Jambar
Youngstown State University brought New York City to Kilcawley Center on Jan. 10 for Penguin Nights.
The event ran from 8 p.m. to midnight, where students found various Big Apple-themed activities scattered across Kilcawley.
Kathy Leeper is the associate director of Kilcawley Center. She works with both the center and Student Activities, who organizes on-campus events for students. Leeper has helped with Penguin Nights since 2016.
“It was a great time and just the beginning as we learned the ropes in planning these fun late-night events, and we’re still going eight years later,” Leeper said. “The great thing about these events is we take over the entire lower floor of Kilcawley Center and transform it with props, lighting, sounds and events — every room is a different experience.”
Students found a Coney Island-themed Chestnut Room with games, prizes and free NYC-style street food. There were also tarot card readings and Zoltar, a machine that predicts people’s future.
Penguin Nights also featured the return of “Not Your Granny’s Bingo” in Wendy’s, which started at 8:15 p.m. Prizes included a Ninja Blender and an Epson Ecotank printer. After bingo, YSU’s Musical Theatre Student Organization performed Broadway hits in a cabaret-style show.
YSU also brought the iconic New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square to campus. Students visited the Lower Arcade for mocktails and caricatures, which was open all evening. Students also found a Studio 54-themed dance party with DJ Kickdrum in the Hub at 10:30 p.m.
“What excites me is the students’ reaction to all of it. Stilt-walking, balloon-making, jugglers and the side-show performers that [showed up] in the Coney Island area,” Leeper said.
Planning was a joint effort between Leeper and John Young, the executive director of Kilcawley Center.
“[Young] is great at this, and full of crazy ideas,” Leeper said. “His imagination knows no limits and he is all about bringing the best we can to our students, even if it means finding the person who will lay on a bed of nails for our entertainment. Performers who come to this always note that no other university does anything quite like Penguin Nights.”
Leeper also said Penguin Nights was a big draw on campus, even with the winter snow.
“We always get hundreds of students at this event, but I would definitely say that this one is one of our really good ones — rich with fun activities. Students, come and have some fun before your semester gets really busy! It’ll be a cold night, but it will be warm in the building and there is free food,” Leeper said.
Sabrina and India Gatts, two sisters at YSU, attended the event.
“I saw the email,” Sabrina Gatts said. “With all the activities listed, it just looked like fun.”
There were many other students attending, who also agreed Penguin Nights was full of fun activities.
“We went to Midnight Breakfast last semester and thought to try this one. Kinda the same vibe, it looked fun,” India Gatts said.
