Filled to the brim with students hustling, bustling, studying and snoozing, throughout the day the HUB-Robeson Center is the epicenter of the Penn State campus. But on many weekend nights in the last several years, thousands of students have filled the HUB for an evening of music, movies, magic and more as a part of LateNight-Penn State — a university-supported effort to make the HUB and other campus buildings the epicenter on the weekends as well.

In September 1996, several students approached President Graham Spanier to discuss a program to give students an alternative to drinking on the weekends.

"Students and university officials worked together and their solution was what used to be known as HUB Late Night," said John Harlow, director of LateNight-Penn State, a position he has held since January 1997. "At first many of the adults involved were skeptical, but there was strong student support from the beginning."

Drawing about 7,000 students during the course of 1997's Spring Semester, HUB Late Night was considered a substantial success.

"Our goal is to give students some great alternatives for socializing, recreation, food and fun," Spanier said.

On a typical weekend, the core activities fall between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. and include cultural events and films on Thursdays, five or more events on Fridays and Saturdays and two showings of movies on Sundays.

One of the most popular features and one of the longest running is the weekly Association of Resident Hall Students-sponsored movie, with nine showings of a selected film in a weekend in the HUB Auditorium, which seats 386.

"We sometimes have 1,000 people for a movie, so we often have to turn people away. Sometimes if Heritage Hall is available, we can simulcast to that room so more people can see the film," said Harlow.

Also popular are the Center for Arts and Crafts-sponsored activities ranging from pottery painting to jewelry making.

"Another big surprise hit has been bingo. Who would think a bunch of college kids would want to play bingo on a Saturday night," Harlow said. "What draws people are the prizes we give away like DVDs, CDs, stereos. We also sometimes have student athletes as callers to try and make it more lively."

The wide variety of activities gives students another option when planning their weekend.

"I don't really do the drinking scene so this is a great other way to have fun," said Bekki Powers (freshman-liberal arts). "There is so little to do around town and the activities really try to incorporate all students' taste."

While some students attend when they have the time, members of the Gaming Association of Penn State can be found every Saturday night at their table on the ground floor of the HUB playing strategy games long into the night.

"We usually come around 8 p.m. and stay as long as we can," said member Brian Marchant (sophomore-electrical engineering). "It's a good place to meet and it's free, so we're here every week."

Students also involved in the co-sponsoring clubs find participating in LateNight-Penn State beneficial to student clubs.

"Doing activities for LateNight helps the promotional aspect of our club," said Chris Chelko (junior-journalism), a member of Penn State Performing Magicians. "We don't participate to just gain new members but to show the university who we are."

Melissa Olivadoti, founder of the Swing Dancing Club and the club's current activities coordinator (senior-psychology), believes LateNight-Penn State helped bring the club to its current success.

"Since the very beginning the program helped us get started. After a LateNight program our membership always goes up, sometimes by one new person, sometimes by 20," said Olivadoti.

The club usually sponsors three or four dances a semester, along with offering dance lessons before a large dance.

"LateNight is definitely our life line," Olivadoti said. "We have no membership fee but we have 500 to 600 members, so to have access to rooms and bring more people in each week, it's a dream. It's really worked out to be a nice relationship."

With full support, including funding from the University Park Allocation Committee as well as private and corporate donations, LateNight-Penn State is still looking to expand.

"Students will see improvements in the availability of food items at low cost," Spanier said. "The new fitness center in the White Building is spectacular and I expect that many students will take advantage of it on weekend nights for exercise and socializing. Eventually, I'd love to see 10,000 students in the HUB and White Building at some point each weekend."

Harlow's goals are just as lofty.

"My ultimate vision is to create a dedicated night club in the HUB area. Maybe like a 300-seat facility with a great social feel. I think that's what's missing from our program right now," Harlow said. "Doing comedy in a hallway just doesn't work. A comedian has got to be able to connect with the audience, and having the right atmosphere is critical to the student's experience."

On another level, Harlow would also like to see more fraternity and sorority involvement.

"We've had many programs with sorority and fraternity involvement but we want to see that increase. We really want them to be major players."

Also in the works for this semester is a concert series, commencing with a concert on Sept. 8 with headliners Good Charlotte.

"We have a motto to try something new each semester, so we've decided on a series of concerts featuring a nationally touring band. It's going to be an interesting semester, so hopefully we'll get some good response," Harlow said. "We're a constantly evolving program, and as we change it's great to see it becoming more and more acceptable for students to come out to our events and that this type of programming is not for losers without a social life."