Over the past few years, UB has played host to a number of big-time, crowd-pleasing concerts. And though the Fests and other concerts have offered students acts like Stone Temple Pilots, No Doubt, The Roots and the upcoming Zwan/Queens of the Stone Age show, not many students know how these acts come to grace the stage of Alumni Arena.
The University Unions Activity Board is the arts and entertainment resource that provides the music, social, and film events on campus. Using money from the mandatory student activities fee, the UUAB is able to fund these events.
According to Patty Abbas, the music coordinator at UUAB, the Fest committee is made up of members of the Student Association, including the president, vice president and treasurer, and Sub-Board I.
"I liked FallFest," said Robin Padliya, a freshman mechanical engineering major. "FallFest was cool, they should have more (shows) like that. It is for the event, not for the artist."
Abbas said the first step to booking a concert is securing the convert venue. The committee then agrees on a list of performers that can possibly come to UB.
"The committee would agree on an artist. We would make an offer and (the performer) will weigh the offer," said Abbas. "It depends on the money, routing, the Fest and other factors. The Fests attract the artists because it is free to students, and they like that."
Some students, however, feel the artists chosen for these Fests do not reflect student interest.
"I don't think (students) are heard or (want to) be heard. It just represents the desires of the mainstream music listeners," said senior sociology major Kevin Genao.
Abbas cited the two SA surveys that were put out to gauge student interests as means to determine which bands students want.
"We then look at the results and decide (who to book)," said Abbas.
But not all students feel that the surveys helped UUAB get a feel of the student's preferences.
"I participated in the surveys but I feel that they did not really offer us any real choices," says Justin Te, a junior communication major. "If it was representative of the popular choice, you would not find people sleeping in their dorms on performance night."
According to Abbas, a hip-hop act would imply a rock or alternative act the following semester, but does not guarantee it.
"One hip-hop, one rock, that is traditional," said Abbas. "But nothing is set in stone. SpringFest 2002 was hip-hop, Fall 2002 was hip-hop too."
Other students did not mind whether the artists are alternative, rock, or hip-hop.
"I think it is what most students want," said Tola Adeogba, a sophomore mechanical engineer. "If most students want hip-hop, they should get hip-hop."
For those students who are concerned about the upcoming performances for the year, UUAB says that there is no reason to worry.
"There will be two great shows for you," said Abbas.
For more information about UUAB and its events, students can visit www.subboard.com/uuab.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
