Faith Moldan

Each weekend, the parking lots at SDSU get a little emptier and the residence halls a little quieter as many students pack up their vehicles and leave Brookings for the weekend.Troy Alfson, coordinator for special housing and programs, said that there are many reasons that students do not stay in Brookings or on campus during the weekend. Freshman Brian Pierce from Wilmont has traveled home often throughout these first few weeks of classes for family functions, but said he plans on staying in Brookings more in the upcoming weeks so he can tailgate before the football games.”They have jobs at home or events in their town they want to attend,” Alfson said of students who leave for the weekend. “Just over 50 percent of students live within 100 miles of Brookings. I wouldn’t go as far as to call SDSU a suitcase university though.”Sophomore Stephanie Arneson from Rosholt said she went home a lot last year, but that has changed this year because she knows more people and has a boyfriend. Arenson, who lives on campus in Caldwell Hall, said she attends sporting events, speakers and plays on campus. The majority of campus programs currently take place on weekdays, but some take place Friday through Sunday. “Three to four years ago, we started testing the waters with weekend programs,” said Adam Karnopp, program advisor for university programs.Alfson and Karnopp work together and with other department heads and residence hall directors, as well as Aramark, to create more weekend programs in STUFF, a committee whose mission is to talk about weekend programs.Dining is another factor concerning students’ weekend stay in Brookings. On-campus facilities have limited weekend hours, as opposed to their hours during the week.”There’s not enough numbers for the Union to stay open on a normal weekend,” Director of Dining Services Dave Menzel said.Larson and Medary Commons, as well as Jack’s Place and Java City, are open on weekends, placing dining facilities on each side of campus for those who stay the weekend. Menzel said that the hours the dining services are open are based on where sales lie. “History tells us the hours that are most convenient for students,” he said.Student organizations and clubs will be able to request funds for weekend programming. As long as the program is open to all students, there is no alcohol, and it meets other requirements, organizations can receive money as part of weekend program funding. which the Students’ Association is currently working on passing.STUFF’s work does not just include weekend programming. The group also works on getting organizations to collaborate with them and other groups. Training is also a part of the STUFF committee. Karnopp said that he hopes people keep the programs going.”We’ve gotten feedback from the programs we’ve done,” Karnopp said. “We’ve had requests to do karaoke again.”Alfson said that it takes a while to build strong programming.On-campus programming is easier this year with the reopening of the University Student Union.”All but one or two programs are going to be held in the Union,” Karnopp said. “They’re programs that have been done before and are fun and worthwhile.”Once the new SDSU student Web site, or student portal as it is known, is up and running, organizations will be able to submit events to the online calendar.”Keep an eye open for publicity,” Alfson said. “Come and check it out