As the mirror ball hanging from the ceiling at the Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion goes in circles, Syracuse University and State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry students do their own rounds on the rink underneath it.
Every Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m. to midnight, students enjoy themselves on and off the rink in a program called “Skate Until Midnight.” Throughout the school year, the ice center turns the lights down low, gets the disco ball going and plays music for students attending the event.
Jordan Peters, assistant director of the program, said the place can get packed some nights. “On just a typical night where there is no event, it can be as small as 10 to 100. On big theme nights it’s not unheard of to get 400 students in here.”
The theme nights that attract the most attention are the ones that offer free skate rentals and refreshments, Peters said. Among the most popular are “Bollywood On Ice” and “Winter Carnival,” he said.
During the winter season, theme nights are coordinated by the ice center or by students.
“A lot of student organizations hold events to try and raise money,” Peters said.
On non-event nights, admission into the ice center is free and skate rentals are $2 a pair. On select theme nights, such as “International Night” and “Winter Carnival’s Glow in the Dark Late Night Skate Night,” both admission and skate rentals are free, with snacks and drinks provided to students, according to Tennity’s website.
Chantal Felice, a sport and human dynamics freshman, said she skates often because she enjoys herself there.
“I usually do it probably once a week because it’s fun,” Felice said. “I mean it’s nice to be around friends, and I guess because I’m not really a person to party.”
Felice said ice skating is a new experience.
“I come from a place where ice skating is like the biggest deal,” she said, “because I’m from Los Angeles and we don’t even get snow so it’s really different.”
