On the weekends, Satchmo’s has become a late night hot-spot.

Residential Life and Co-Curricular Programs have teamed up to create Iggy Nights, late-night programming designed for students who want to stay on campus, but still have fun.

Hollie Chessman, assistant director of Co-Curricular Programs, said that the program gives students an alternative to going to bars.

“You don’t have to go to the Boot or Tucks to have fun, you can stay on campus,” said Chessman.
   
Iggy Nights hosted a karaoke event on Jan. 29 from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. in Satchmo’s.

Several students took on the spotlight as disco lights flashed, while other students sat back and observed.  Students serenaded the crowd with renditions of Aretha Franklin’s Respect and other popular Billboard songs. 

“This was the chance that I needed to just have a break from a really long stressful day and to come out and sing ‘Ice Ice Baby’ or to sing to the Spice Girls,” said Ashley Woolledge, mass communication and business administration senior.   

As the night went on, more students began to loosen up.     
 
“It was hysterical because their personalities finally came out,” said Woolledge. “People came in to observe just because it was so funny.     

“(Karaoke night) was a chance for students to be students and not just think about books and tests. I had a good experience  — it was like bonding at a restaurant, but on campus,” she said.    

For those who would prefer to confine their vocal performance within the comfort of shower walls, Iggy Nights hosts a variety of late night programs in Satchmos.
 
Improv Comedy night is on the first Thursday of every month.  Loyola alumna Lynae Kallenback, along with other members of the National Comedy Company, performs an improv show and teaches students how to do improv comedy.

Iggy Nights also sponsors music events on Fridays, where Loyola student bands and other musicians play jazz, R&B, dance, instrumental and funk music.
 
“Most music clubs are eighteen and up, which is difficult when you have friends in different age groups.  It’s free and you don’t have to drive anywhere.  It’s a good way for us to bring good music to the students,” said Ryan Callanan and Nigel Rafferty, music booking agents for Iggy Nights.

For the film buffs, Iggy Nights hosts Saturday movie nights, where they show a variety of documentaries, recent blockbusters and classics. According to Chessman, Iggy Nights will be showing “Tropic Thunder” and “Mamma Mia” in the upcoming weeks.   

Woolledge, along with University Programming Board, helped plan several Iggy Nights events.

“Those different events are a way to give to back to the students,” she said.

“The events pull in a different audience of people who go at night from some of the standard people who go during the day. It’s more of trying to get a grasp on the whole student body versus being limited to the same students who come from 4-6,” she said.

Chessman said that the event is a unique opportunity for students.
   
“It gives students an opportunity to do something else, and not necessarily something they would get anywhere else,” said Chessman.

Kieu Tran can be reached at [email protected].