> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Thursday is the new Friday - URL: https://www.smdp.com/thursday-is-the-new-friday/ - Published: 2007-07-26T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T02:22:26.000Z - Author: Guest Author - Tags: Education, Santa Monica, #archive-import *College students don’t wait for the weekend to party nowadays* *By EMILY SKEHAN Special to the Daily Press* Across the nation, both college students and party hosts seem to agree, there’s no better time to get a jump on the weekend than Thursday night. “It’s the new thing,” said Luke Skurman, CEO of College Prowler, a publishing house and website that provides the lowdown on college campus life. “Everyone wants to do what’s not so normal and mainstream — students are looking for ways to differentiate themselves in the party scene.” Those who have long exited, or are about to enter, the world of keggers and club-hopping may wonder what all the fuss is about. Shifting around class schedules and bumping up intense study habits have effectively pushed the weekend one day earlier for many college students, who can now put on their party hats for Thursday nights rather than waiting for the official weekend. “I plan it so that I don’t have classes on Fridays,” said Jennifer Cruz, an incoming freshman at Santa Monica College, “’cause Friday’s my weekend.” “We start partying on Thursday night,” added her friend Michelle Crespo, who says her group generally hangs out at small parties in eachother’s homes. At UCLA, the Greek scene kicks off on Thursdays, with fraternities often competing to hold the wildest parties and nearby bars serving up specials. “Thursday night is pretty much the biggest night on campus,” said Eddie Orozco, an incoming junior and brother of Sigma Nu Fraternity. “It’s when all the best parties happen.” The consensus on Gayley Avenue’s frat row is that Thursdays are the night to be seen. “It’s pretty much the norm,” said Mike Nguyen, who is a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, widely considered one of the most popular party fraternities at UCLA. “You don’t decide to go out on Thursdays, it just happens. People say ‘What are you gonna do tonight?’ and even if you don’t mean to, you get trashed.” The Westwood residents explained that most of their friends avoid scheduling any classes on Fridays, at least, not before noon. While the Thursday night affairs aren’t an entirely new phenomenon at area campuses, it seems to have crept up on the current college generation. “It’s definitely a cutting-edge thing,” said Skurman. “More and more people have been saying that Thursdays are an increasingly cool, out-of-the-box night to go out.” While a specific reason for the popularity of early week socializing left many fraternity members shrugging, some speculated that UCLA’s status as a commuter school might contribute to the head start on partying, because many students go home for the weekends. Also, many Bruins head to night clubs all across Los Angeles — such venues are rare in Westwood — on Fridays and Saturdays, scattering much of the campus’ population. Although local bars O’Haras and The Brewing Company are popular among older students, dance clubs and trendy night spots are typically found outside of Westwood Village. Some students blame the weight of school work for their early start to weekend socializing. “You have to take full days to really get your studying done,” said Nguyen, an incoming junior. “It’s easier to go out on Thursdays and then just stay in all day Saturday and work.” Of course, there are those who run a marathon weekend, going out Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. For that contingent, the three-night social binge can become a detrimental habit. “I go out and party on Thursday night,” said SMC sophomore Andre Lackner, “and I’m all partied out on Friday.” “Knowing that you don’t have anything to do on Friday feels great, but you still have to study,” Lackner explained. “When you get into this rhythm of going out, even on weeknights, it really gets in the way of studying.” Despite the interference with academic pursuits, Lackner admits to going out dancing or to parties almost every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. “If I’m too tired to go out, I hit up the beach” he said. While the new trend in social affairs can be exhausting for students who take their extended weekends to heart, it does-n’t look like Friday nights will regain their once-prime social status anytime soon. “Thursdays are tradition,” said Orozco. At the least, they are the new Friday. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/072607-09_03.jpg) RACKING ‘EM UP: Julian Richardson, 24, lines up a pool shot at Barney’s Beanery on the Third Street Promenade recently. (Photo: Photo courtesy) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 26, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/072607.pdf?ref=smdp.com)