Gator Delights Speech

Songs of the '90s float through the darkness of the J. Wayne Reitz Union's Grand Ballroom while a multicolor LED dance floor lights up a division of the room.
A long line for customized air-brushed hats snakes along while students play with a giant Jenga set or make Nickelodeon-inspired Slime.
All these people are participating in GatorNights, a free event for those with a Gator 1 Card, hosted by the Reitz Programming Board that happens almost every Friday in the Reitz Union. Check-in starts at 7:30 p.m. and ends at 1 a.m. The theme for Friday was a throwback to the '80s and '90s.
The event included a "Scooby-Doo" themed scavenger hunt, slap bracelets, free bowling, free billiards, two showings of "Back to the Future" and snacks and games.
The fact that it is free also influences her. Ghannouma likes the cute activities that the program provides. She said, she came for the slime-making activity at this GatorNights.
She said she wishes that she started taking advantage of the program earlier though. She encourages other people to come, especially freshmen.
"If you're coming in as a freshman, usually you're underage or whatever, and you can't really go out to bars or anything yet," Ghannouma said. "I think this is a really good alternative."
The arts and crafts can be worth the trip, she said. She recalls a stuff-a-gator activity where participants could make their own stuffed alligator. Another event she liked was the customizable mug activity from a previous GatorNights. She said that a customizable mug is expensive, but with GatorNights she was able to get one for free. Ghannouma really likes the benefits of the event.
Ashley Gomez, a student assistant for GatorNights, liked the program so much that she joined the staff. She first came to GatorNights her freshman year. She said it was a great experience, because she was underage and couldn't do
For second half, she controlled lines in the Game Room. She said job designations change from night to night. But Gomez said she loves her job, because she has fun.
Starr Courakos, co-director of the GatorNights committee, also joined GatorNights after experiencing the program in her freshman year. She said the program is a great experience, especially for students who can't go off campus, don’t have much money or have other limitations.
"It's a really inclusive and open environment for student that want to have fun," she said, "but can't necessarily do all the things their peers are doing."
The program is good for people who are uncomfortable going out, she said. The program helps students meet new friends. The committee purposely set up activities to foster group discussion. If someone comes by themselves and wants to participate in a group activity, they get paired up, Courakos said. It's a way to help bring people together.
To ensure the night goes smoothly, the GatorNights committee spends plenty of time planning. Courakos said the 13-person committee and two co-directors meet once a semester for a four-hour meeting to plan themes for the upcoming