Story by RORY MOORE Photos by MALEAH GRIFFIN
Tiger Media Network
The Office of Student Engagement hosted a drive-in movie theater showing of ‘White Chicks’ (2004) for students inside Gross Memorial Coliseum on Thursday. The inaugural endeavor was part of the office’s initiative to help students relieve stress amid final exams as the Spring semester ends.
Movie loaded and ready to play. 
Movie clip. 
Free event t-shirts. 
Free popcorn provided. 
A student adds one of the many flavor options to her popcorn. 
Students receive t-shirts and tickets for a PS5 drawing. 
Students receive t-shirts and tickets for a PS5 drawing. 
Students look for optimal viewing seats. 
Students await the movie. 
Students hang out in between activities. 
Students enjoy the pre-movie activities. 
Student Engagement Coordinator Brett Meyer helped put on the event. 
A student rocks the dance competition, winning a scholarship. 
Student Engagement members prepare a basketball competition. 
A Student competes in a free-throw competition. 
Members work hard to get the movie going for all the students.
The initial idea was conceived from outdoor movie theaters that were popular before indoor theaters took over with their evolved amenities. However, unfavorable weather forced the event indoors.
“What ended up happening was we mixed it up a little,” said Student Engagement Student Employee Nickolas Backman. “Since we’re creeping up on finals, everyone’s like, ‘Let’s have a time where people sit down, relax, watch a movie, catch a break from doing homework 24/7, and do a drive-in movie theater.’ Also, since AMC sadly closed, where else are you going to see a movie?”
The closing of the AMC Theater in Hays influenced Student Engagement’s decision to organize the activity.
“It was a cheap ticket, $3, so it was sad,” Student Engagement Coordinator Brett Meyer said. “Students aren’t very happy, but this is a good time. You come here and watch a movie with your friends, relax, enjoy a night with your friends, and not focus on finals. We’ve been wanting to do this for a long time, having that feeling of a drive-in theater.”
Meyer noted that the theater is a concept Student Engagement has to entertain students in the future.
“I hope we can do more things like this,” he said. “Maybe in the Fall, we’ll have something where there’s nicer weather, and we bring in another movie on the Quad.”