The university will not close tonight. In fact, students can enjoy a host of on-campus activities and parties until four in the morning during the first edition of Radboud by Night. The professors will take on the role of DJs.

Dance to funky beats by the president of the Executive Board, wander through a haunted house in Thomas van Aquinostraat and join a rousing pub quiz high up in the Erasmus building. Tonight marks the first edition of Radboud by Night, a merger of the former Campus Night and the Night of the Professors.

The first Campus Night was held in 2015 and was the successor to Night of the University Library, a plea by the University Student Council to extend the library’s opening hours. Their wish was granted, effectively rendering the Night of the University Library an unnecessary event. But a party is never unnecessary and was renamed Campus Night. It was also the perfect opportunity for the Student Council to draw attention to the accessibility of the entire campus from early morning to late at night.

More money
It’s hard to call Campus Night a resounding success, as it never drew a big crowd. Radboud by Night is setting the bar higher. The Marketing and Communications Department is helping to promote the event and the Student Life Department is making more money available. More student organisations, including Ovum Novum and Phocas, are helping to flesh out the programme. The English name was deliberately chosen to attract more international students. ‘This is helping us reach a wider audience’, says Tessa van Erp from the Student Council.

‘Esther-Mirjam Sent says she gets her DJ inspiration from her children’s favourite artists: Drake and Ronny Flex’

The biggest event sponsor is therefore the university. ‘But it’s still our event’, assures fellow board member Wouter van Weert. The activist sentiments that motivated the Night of the University Library and Campus Night seem less important now. ‘We just want to show people that the campus can also be used for other things’, adds Van Weert. ‘Instead of going to the Molenstraat on a Thursday night, you can actually go to campus.’

Drake and Ronny Flex
The last edition of Night of the Professors, which featured professors as DJs, was several years ago. ‘We brought back this event at the request of the professors, among other things’, says Tessa van Erp. She listed the professors who will double as DJs on Thursday night: Executive Board President Daniël Wigboldus will play funk and soul, Paul Ketelaar will play techno and Manfred te Grotenhuis will DJ a rave-like party. Esther-Mirjam Sent said she will play tunes inspired by her children’s favourite artists. ‘I expect it will be a lot of Drake and Ronny Flex’, says Van Erp.

For the full Radboud by Night programme click here.