In its fourth edition, the event took on a different format but still drew massive crowds to participate in a variety of activities across campus.
BYU-Idaho’s Date Night—Winter 2025 edition—took place last Friday, January 31, bringing thousands of students to the event, which featured multiple activities, including a performance by social media influencer Batchlor Wise Johnson IV.

Past editions started with an opening devotional at the BYU-Idaho Center. This time, President and Sister Meredith welcomed students at the Crossroads stage, sharing a video with their remarks that also broadcast across campus.
“This event is more than a fun date idea, it’s part of a broader goal to improve the dating culture here on campus,” President Meredith said.
He continued by encouraging students to date with purpose, not pressure; he reminded them that dating is about forming genuine one-on-one connections—but doesn’t have to imply a big commitment.
Sister Meredith also highlighted keeping dates simple and dating with faith in Jesus Christ, fostering a spirit of service, growth, and respect.
“Casual and fun plans, like Date Night, keep things relaxed and real,” she said.

After the short broadcast, students enjoyed roller skating, bingo, bowling, karaoke, pickleball, and many more activities—the only cost was bringing a date.
“I think it's fun and it's an opportunity for the student life to all be together in the same place. It's just super convenient, but also super fun, since there's a large variety of activities that anybody and everybody is into,” Chet Gibson, a psychology student, said.
One of Date Night’s biggest attractions was a performance by Batchlor Wise Johnson IV—a Latter-day Saint musician who frequently shares his faith through his social media accounts.
He took over the Hart Auditorium with his family and friends, getting the crowd to dance and sing along to popular songs, in addition to their original music.
Batchlor and his band also shared their life stories, dating experiences, and the importance of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

For Tyler Richey, Campus Life Director, the most rewarding part of being involved with Date Night is seeing how many students show up, and how excited they are to participate.
“It’s so awesome to know that we are providing a place for students to decompress, to find people that they can go on dates with and just have fun, and to feel like they belong at BYU-Idaho,” he said.
BYU-Idaho plans on keeping Date Night a semesterly tradition, hoping that students who attend can create fond memories of their experience on campus.
“If a student can have a positive connection with another person while they're in a Christ-centered environment and while they're having fun, that does a lot more for an individual than you think,” Abby Kottkey, Campus Life Events and Activities Coordinator, said.