Starting this semester, the Fresno City College’s Student Lounge (located inside the cafeteria building) will hold After Hours from 5 to 8 p.m on the third Wednesday of every month. 

The goal of this initiative is to provide students with a safe place on campus to congregate and meet new people outside of the Student Lounge’s normal hours.

The concept of “After Hours”, which began on Sept. 18, is being coordinated by FCC’s Senior Program Specialist Sadie Grantham.

“It was really important for us as a department to think about how we could improve the student experience outside of the classroom,” said Grantham. “It’s imperative that [students] are able to make connections and build community.”

The event will be complete with games, food and music provided by the Student Activities Office. Each month will usher in a new theme that activities will be based around.

“The reason we’re doing it once a month is because this is something pretty new for us as a campus,” Grantham said.

The Student Activities Office hopes that implementing these extended hours for the Student Lounge will satisfy previous complaints about a lack of third places on campus. If the event is successful, they will consider holding it more than once a month. 

“There might be some thoughts as to whether or not it will be successful, so launching [After Hours] is to prove that it can be,” Grantham said.

Doubts about the event’s success are likely due to the time slot. It is not convenient for everyone to stay on campus from 5-8 pm.

Isamayde Hernandez, a student at FCC, is juggling too many commitments to be a regular at the event. 

“I appreciate how they offer [Student Lounge After Hours], but I’m just busy,” FCC student Isamayde Hernandez said.

The full calendar of events offered by the Student Activities Office is available on the FCC website.