Alina Rosenkranz |
Pilots After Dark has a new face behind it. Tyler Zimmerman, formerly Christie Hall’s assistant hall director, is now in charge of late night and weekend activities.
Zimmerman said he is excited to take on the role and work directly with student leaders.
“[I enjoy] really being a good adviser for UP students who are really excited about making it a great place to be,” Zimmerman said. “So advising CPB and the Pilots After Dark crew is what’s really exciting for me, and to see them succeed in the stuff that they want to bring to campus.”
Zimmerman was Christie Hall’s assistant hall director for the past two years. Although he is transitioning into a new role as late night coordinator, he will also keep his current position until the Office of Residence Life finds a replacement for him.
Zimmerman is also a graduate student at UP and will get his master’s in communication studies in spring 2015.
Senior Myles Goins, a Christie Hall resident, said Zimmerman is perfect for the job as weekend and late night coordinator.
“Tyler is going to do a great job. He is really creative and he is always coming up with new ideas,” Goins said. “He is going to bring in a fresh new take, definitely.”
So far, Zimmerman has especially enjoyed the live music at Pilots After Dark, and he hopes to connect UP to Portland culture on a new level.
“We have such great music, culture and food in this city, and I think UP students want to experience it on campus,” Zimmerman said.
Zimmerman said as an assistant hall director, he knew he was doing his job best when he let students take on leadership roles. Zimmerman hopes to continue being a support person for students in his new job.
“Part of it is bringing some leadership, vision and fresh ideas to weekend and late night programming on campus.” Zimmerman said. “But for the most part, it’s being the support person for the students who are in these leadership roles. Helping them to get the resources they need to make stuff happen. So ideally in my world, the students are the ones who are running the show.”
Sophomore Tyler Gustavson, who lives in Christie Hall, said Zimmerman’s unique personality and talents makes him right for the job.
“He is from Alaska, plays the accordion and piano, and makes surprisingly good popcorn,” Gustavson said.
Zimmerman said he is especially excited about Pilots After Dark’s event this Friday, where students can create their own neon T-shirts in preparation for CPB’s Black Light Dance on Saturday Oct. 4. There will also be karaoke.
Pilots After Dark runs from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. in The Cove.
Alina Rosenkranz is a reporter for The Beacon. You can reach her at rosenkra17@up.edu.
