Why does UMKC feel like a ghost town on weekends?

  UMKC is busy all week, but when Friday afternoon hits, the campus goes quiet. Students say a mix of commuter habits, city life and limited campus events leave weekends feeling empty. 

  “Flyers are pretty but don’t call to action necessarily,” she said. “I think people want to date, so singles and couples events would be fun.” Morgan Faith Fox-Hanlen, a sophomore in civil engineering, said students often don’t know what’s happening on campus. 

  For many students, the weekend emptiness isn’t just about missing events, it’s also about the commuter culture and lifestyle differences between on-campus and off-campus students. Some prefer to spend their weekends at home or socializing off campus, leaving campus spaces largely unused. 

  “It feels very empty because the university does not offer any activities or promote sports like other universities where people usually love going to games,” Cortes said. “Other cities have a ‘college town’ atmosphere, but UMKC is divided into several sections, so you don’t see many people around.”  Mora Cortes, a chemistry major on the pre-med track, said the structure of UMKC and its limited sports culture make the campus feel disconnected.

  She added that the commuter nature of the school also plays a major role. 

  “This commuter-centric approach affects weekends at the university because most students don’t live on campus and return home, ” Cortes said. “This leads to less activity and a less vibrant university life, as participation in events, use of facilities, and interaction among students decrease. As a result, the campus feels emptier, and the sense of community diminishes on those days.”

  Cortes said the situation could change if UMKC offered more weekend events and open spaces. “By creating cultural, sporting, or academic events, keeping common areas open, and promoting student participation, the campus would become a more attractive place to be,” she said. “This way, students who normally return home would have more reasons to stay, increasing interaction, community and university life even outside of regular class hours.”

  Others say the events that do happen aren’t always designed to attract a wide audience, which limits participation and engagement. 

  “UMKC is dead on the weekend mostly because of the location of the campus and the lack of spaces to hang out or party,” said Emma Tice, a sophomore in communications, who said the city location and high commuter population contribute to the quiet weekends.  “Since we’re in the city, a lot of people go off campus to socialize. A lot of commuters vs people living on campus definitely plays a big role. Parking is a tremendous issue here, and I hope the streetcar will help more students stay on campus and come to events.”

  “UMKC is dead on the weekends because everyone most likely chooses to go home and separate their school life from their social life,” Said Jessica Souvannakhot, a dental hygiene major and also mentioned many students are satisfied with the balance between school and personal life. 

  While opinions vary, most students agree that UMKC’s commuter culture and event visibility play major roles in shaping weekend life. As the university continues to grow, students say more activities, open spaces, and community-driven events could help turn quiet weekends into opportunities for connection and campus pride.

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