The Indiana Memorial Union is typically home to a variety of club and organization meetings, studying students and those looking for a quick bite to eat. But on the weekends, it’s transformed into a cinema.
Each week, the Union Board presents a new movie in the Whittenberger Auditorium. At 8 p.m. or 11 p.m. on Thursday, Friday or Saturday, students can gain free admission to the movie with their student ID.
“Movies are expensive, and it’s nice to just go out for a movie with your student ID and not have to pay anything,” junior Jessica Fogarty said.
Fogarty has seen multiple films at the Union and said “Now You See Me 2” was her favorite.
Yasmine Raouf, Union Board director of films, said the committee decides which movies to play. The usual choices are blockbusters from the past three to four months because recent movies tend to be the biggest hit with students.
“It’s also about making sure we don’t show too many animated films together or too many action films,” Raouf said. “It’s about doing a good, even spread so people will want to come out.”
Raouf and the committee use sites that work with college students across the nation to allow to buy movie rights for a precise number of showings, she said.
The money to purchase movie rights comes from Union Board’s budget, which is comprised of funds from the Student Activity Fee. Profits from concessions sold at the movie, as well as the $2 entrance fee without a student ID, go back toward future films or other Union Board events.
For most new releases, the weekend screenings cost $1,000 to $1,200, she said.
When Fogarty attends a movie, she said she enjoys that the films are typically those newly released on DVD. She likes to go watch the movies on Thursdays or Fridays after her classes.
“It’s a good way to go hang out with friends, relax and have something to do on campus,” Fogarty said.
Raouf said the Union Board strives to provide activities like this to students. Without a large cinema presence in Bloomington, she said she believes having films at the Union is a great resource.
“It’s a way for you to become a part of the community and get to know people,” Raouf said.
