With rising tuition costs and a tanking economy, many students are seeing their disposable incomes shrink.
Free movies
Luckily, Sun Devils seeking out affordable entertainment have several options on the ASU campuses and beyond.
One of the best-kept secrets of the ASU Libraries is its free-for-students DVD and VHS collections.
According to Vicki Coleman, an associate University librarian, the ASU Libraries collection in its totality, contains about 35,000 film and video materials, on the four campuses combined.
Buried deep within the bowels of the basement of Hayden Library is a collection of about 12,300 items, ranging from cinema classics and foreign films to relatively recent releases like “Blood Diamond.”
“Materials for the film and video collection are selected by librarians and archivists to support teaching learning and research across all curricula,” Coleman said.
“Often materials are purchased at the request of faculty,” she said.
Although the collection has an educational aim, Hayden Library also stocks a number of television series on DVD, including “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Big Love,” “Chappelle’s Show” and “The Office.”
DVDs and VHS tapes can be checked out free of charge and are due after one week.
But procrastinators beware: fines can stack up. Late charges are $2 per day.
Cheap tickets
Students looking to stretch their entertainment budget have another option right on campus: “Student Rush” tickets to shows and performances playing at ASU Gammage.
On the day of a performance, students can purchase available seats for 50 percent off with their ASU ID cards.
Student Rush tickets are usually available two hours before show time, and only two tickets are allowed per each student.
Theater aficionado Ellen Chang, a math and finance sophomore, came across the “Student Rush” tickets by chance.
“Most theaters across the country have some kind of rush or student discount program, so I asked the box office to see if Gammage had a similar policy.
“It’s a really great deal for professional Broadway productions,” she said.
Chang said she has seen “Twelve Angry Men,” “My Fair Lady,” “A Chorus Line” and “Spring Awakening” through the Student Rush program.
Students interested in attending a Broadway show in the next two weeks should check out performances of “The Lion King” on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Sunday evening, when Student Rush tickets will be available for $18.50.
Art sans the cost
Artistically-inclined Sun Devils can also ride the light rail to visit the Phoenix Art Museum on Tuesday evenings, when admission is free to the public from 3 p.m. until the museum closes at 9 p.m.
Free student bus and light rail passes are available through the ASU Parking and Transit Services office located at University Towers on Forest Avenue. The McDowell Road and Central Avenue light-rail stop is just a short walk from the museum.
The eclectic collection at the Phoenix Art Museum may surprise students.
Alongside the museum’s collection of Asian, Western and Latin American art, the Kelly Ellman Fashion Design Gallery brings style to the Art Museum.
Its latest exhibition: the jumpsuit.
Visitors can see everything from a golden jumpsuit worn by Beyoncé, to Speedos worn by athletes such as Michael Phelps.
Unlike some of the jumpsuits in the show, though cheap entertainment is one thing that never goes out of style.
Reach the reporter at erin.hutchinson@asu.edu.
