Music, laughter, complimentary chips and salsa and friendly competition filled the back portion of JP’s Sports Grill on Nov. 4, as students gathered for the first joint trivia night hosted by the Union Program Council.

The event, centered on music-themed trivia, marked the first of what JP’s Sports Grill and UPC hope to become a recurring event. 

“I reached out to UPC because they’re so good about putting on student events that I figured let’s have them coordinate some of this stuff for us, and we’ll provide the food,” Wesley Rossiter, JP’s Sports Grill’s general manager, said.

Rossiter said partnering with UPC made sense not just for logistics but also for student engagement. 

“They’re [UPC] connected with the students that are looking for events throughout the year anyway,” Rossiter said. “They have a little bit better marketing.” 

Grace Ann Thompson, the student programs coordinator for Student Programs and Involvement and advisor for UPC’s music committee, noted that trivia nights make sense as a recurring UPC event — something fun, easy to plan and engaging for students. Partnering with JP’s Sports Bar offered the perfect opportunity for that. 

To plan this first event, Thompson met regularly with her student music committee, who helped set the trivia categories and emcee the night. 

“I worked with my students and they helped come up with questions and kind of review how they want to go over the questions,” Thompson said. “They picked four categories that are just music-themed because that’s what our committee is. They picked four categories that are more student-related, like the Billboard top hits, the Grammys, music soundtracks, ’cause I feel like that’s a classic, and 2000s music.” 

Thompson hopes these events give students a chance to relax and connect outside of the classroom. 

“Trivia night, for example, I had a group of friends I always go with,” she said. “It’s such a great way to build community, to meet new people. Even if it’s something relaxing and only for an hour on a Tuesday night, hopefully it gives them that study break during the semester.”

Grace Dalziel, a junior in fisheries, wildlife conservation and environmental biology, was on a trivia team with her friends. 

“I think it’s cool,” Dalziel said. “It’s very cool, I’m really enjoying it. It’s a good way to bring money and students into JP’s, along with students.” 

This enthusiasm from students reflects exactly what UPC and JP’s Sports Grill hope to build through this recurring event.