For any students this year who feel they have never truly taken advantage of living in the city of Downtown Atlanta, Spotlight is making this year the year to start.
Spotlight Programs Board and Campus Events have merged in the past year and now operate under Spotlight. With that, comes new committees and additions such as Pounce Around Atlanta.
Directed by Temitope Ibisanmi, the Pounce Around Atlanta Committee is dedicated to showing Georgia State students a compelling time around Downtown.
“We take students to places they may have never been before using their student funds,” Ibisanmi said. “So that they can explore and enjoy time with either their family or their friends.”
Those places include Blue at the Zoo, the Atlanta Braves, the Atlanta Hawks, Netherworld Haunted House, Main Event, the Atlanta Botanical Gardens: Garden Lights. Their biggest event is “GSU Night at Six Flags.”
“Just because we live in Atlanta, just because our school isn’t a traditional campus, just because it’s stationed here, doesn’t mean we can’t get out and explore,” Ibisanmi said.
Pounce Around Atlanta was launched this summer, with their first program being a Georgia State night with the Atlanta Braves. Currently, there are 11 events scheduled on their calendar for 2015 – 2016.
The fusion of both Spotlight and Campus Events doesn’t change how things are run as much as it seems. The events and programs that are planned and are traditionally slated will go on as just simply a larger organization.
“Spotlight takes over the events that Campus Events may have had in the past,” Ibisanmi said. “Campus Events and Spotlight were doing the same thing before, just as separate entities. This way, we are reaching more students, but under one platform.”
The objective of Pounce Around Atlanta is to allow Georgia State students to utilize what all Atlanta has to offer and to go even then out on their volition and discover different places around the city.
“For those who are uncomfortable doing that, we provide the shuttles, and we provide a friendly atmosphere,” Ibisanmi said.
The target, so far, has been a success with over 200 tickets being sold at the Georgia State night with the Atlanta Braves. Coming up, 3,000 people are expected for Blue at the Zoo.
“My goal is to get students comfortable with Atlanta and to understand how great of a city they have around them,” Ibisanmi said. “Because we don’t have a traditional campus, doesn’t mean that we can’t go out and explore the city for our own.”
Connect with Pounce
The events planned may be on the schedule, but potential options in the future could be in the student’s hands.
“We’re always open to suggestions from our students of places they’d like us to take them,” Ibisanmi said.
Anyone interested in being a part of Pounce Around Atlanta committee, have questions or any suggestions should contact Temitope Ibisanmi or Phillip Smith, at spotlightpounceatl@gmail.com
Blue at the Zoo – Sept. 25
Students, faculty, staff and guests will have the entire Zoo Atlanta to themselves for a night that will include live music, a caricature artist, free food and more. Georgia State’s Pounce has been in attendance in the past.
The Atlanta Braves
At Turner Field, The Atlanta Braves only has up until December of 2016 before they vacate the Atlanta stadium. Through Pounce Around Atlanta, students have the opportunity to catch one of this season’s home stretches in Downtown Atlanta.
The Atlanta Hawks
The city’s NBA team, the Atlanta Hawks, have basketball games planned this season that last into late fall. Home games are played at the Philips Arena.
Netherworld Haunted House – Oct. 27
Opening this year Sept. 25, Netherworld Haunted House remains open for business until November. At Netherworld, there is walk through interactive Haunted Mansion filled with special effects and life-like monsters.
Main Event
Located off of Cobb Parkway, Main Event is a interactive arcade and bowling alley. Main Event houses games of bowling, laser tag, billiards, arcade games, gravity ropes, food and drinks.
The Atlanta Botanical Gardens: Garden Lights – Dec. 3
From Nov. 14 to Jan. 9, The Atlanta Botanical Gardens has its annual extravaganza of lights and holiday decorations throughout the garden. The intricate show includes new features such as the massive Tunnel of Light and regulars like Glittering Galaxy to get people in the holiday spirit.
GSU Night at Six Flags
For one night each school year, Georgia State has had a night at Six Flags Over Georgia. This year, Pounce Around Atlanta will host a private night at Six Flags where students can purchase heavily discounted tickets and enjoy the amusement park from 5 p.m. to midnight.
