Sights & lights returns to UNM campus for Silent Lights 2024

Picture this, you're dancing to your favorite music with wireless headphones, surrounded by your friends and classmates, and watching thousands of flashing lights above you. Well, you don't have to imagine for much longer. The University of New Mexico's Silent Lights is back this year and bigger than ever.

Six DJs, three stages, and one silent disco. The annual outdoor event will be held in the heart of Main Campus at Smith Plaza, between Zimmerman Library and the Student Union Building, on Thursday, September 19, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. for its 7th year.

The event, a twist on a traditional homecoming dance, is free to all students who bring their Lobo I.D. card. Each student is allowed one guest. Free parking will be available in the Yale parking structure from 7 p.m. to midnight. Silent Lights 2024 falls during homecoming week from September 18-21 withmore events leading to the epic showdown against Fresno State.

The first Silent Lights was held in 2016 after University Communication and Marketing (UCAM) partnered with The Student Activities Center to celebrate the new UNM rebrand and bring a new tradition to campus.

"UCAM was looking for a cool way to roll out the new UNM brand so they reached out to The Student Activities Center to brainstorm some ideas. The original idea came with audio, which that part of the campus did not allow," UNM's Student Activity Center Director Ryan Lindquist said. "I had always wanted to do a silent disco on campus and this solved our amplified sound issue."

In 2020, Silent Lights was transformed into a campus-wide scavenger hunt called Quest for the Unexpected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Silent Lights 2023 had 2,800 people in attendance with students waiting in line. This year, it's expected to be even bigger and recommended students get in line early. Silent Lights will have headphones for 1,750 students at one time but expect between 2,500 to 3,500 students to rotate through.

"This year's Silent Lights will be different from last year's due to the type of music being played, the free promotional items, and the number of people," Andrew Norton, the Executive Director of ASUNM Student Special Events said. "We have noticed a significant increase in the number of students who want to attend this event. We have ordered more headphones this year in preparation for the larger crowds."

Silent Lights 2024's theme is 90s. Students will see a large interactive display of old-style TVs installed by SOBOL Solutions.Free holographic CD stickers, pit viper style sunglasses, and glow sticks will be given out during the event on a first-come first-serve basis. There will also be free t-shirts for volunteers. Two food trucks will be on-site, Bing Tea and Kona Ice.

"Bringing it back to the past will lead to absolutely incredible outfits with retro music," Norton said. "The pit viper style sunglasses also help complete the fit. We are truly excited to bring Silent Lights 2024 to the student body of UNM."

While Silent Lights is limited to current students; UNM staff, faculty, alumni, and community members are invited to participate in homecoming events throughout the week sponsored by the UNM Office of Alumni Relations. Homecoming week culminates with the football game - Lobos vs Fresno State on Saturday, September 21, at 6:30 p.m. at University Stadium. All UNM students who pay the athletics fee can claim free season tickets or single-game tickets for all regular season home games.

Silent Lights is sponsored by ASUNM Student Special Events, ASUNM Lobo Spirit, Student Activities Center, and University Communication and Marketing, with support from the Student Union Building and Parking and Transportation Services.

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