CUAB to solicit more student input

It’s a comeback year for the Carolina Union Activities Board.

Tom Low, president of the organization, said he knows many UNC students weren’t exactly pleased with The New Pornographers at last year’s Homecoming concert.

But this year, Low is aiming to give the people what they want, and with yesterday’s announcement of J. Cole as the headliner, it seems they are headed in the right direction.

“I am super excited about J. Cole, especially because I know who he is, which is a big improvement from last year’s group,” said Candace Howze, a sophomore at UNC.

After tallying up student suggestions via email and whiteboard stationed in the Carolina Union, CUAB hired students’ number one choice for $105,000.

“It was certainly not easy and not cheap, but it was what the students wanted,” Low said.

Lauren Sacks, assistant director for student learning and activities at the Union, said CUAB is aiming to give students more bang for their buck with big-name concerts this year.

“They try to balance both what’s popular and interesting with what’s cost-effective,” Sacks said.

CUAB lost $63,000 on last year’s Homecoming concert after selling 16 percent of tickets — about 700 tickets.

The contract for The New Pornographers cost $40,000 and garnered low student interest in contrast with Passion Pit the year before.

Low said this resulted from a lack of student feedback.

“I know that Homecoming wasn’t what many students wanted it to be, but we finished out strong in the spring,” he said.

Evan Allan, CUAB’s music chairman, said he has also booked Diplo — an electronic music disc jockey — for an Oct. 6 concert in Memorial Hall for $30,000.

“I want to bring a diverse array of genres, because I feel like in the past we’ve always been beholden to one genre — mainly that kind of indie-folk rock,” said Allan.

Sacks said CUAB’s budget is usually around $350,000, or $13 per student, but the exact budget for this year is not concrete yet.

A specific student fee for the Homecoming concert was discussed last year, but Low said there was not enough feedback from students.

Low said he hopes to revisit the issue this year.

He said that if CUAB’s budget allows it, he wants to bring back the last day of classes concert, which CUAB could not to do last year.

Low also said that CUAB will continue to host Jubilee — a concert that marked the end of the spring semester at UNC from 1963 to 1971. CUAB revived it last spring with a concert by 2 Chainz and Juicy J.

“That is a great Carolina tradition that I will carry on this year and for many years to come,” Low said.

CUAB’s famous student-centered events are set to kick off this week with the re-opening of the Union and a student rock show Friday in Gerrard Hall.

Low said CUAB is working with the Carolina Athletics Association to host a football pep rally in Fraternity Court on the night of the football game against East Carolina University on Sept. 22.

Sacks said that CUAB is going to try to improve its relationship with students with more marketing, advance planning and transparency.

“(CUAB) really wants to listen as closely as possible,” she said.
Allan said taking student suggestions with the whiteboard was a step forward.

Low said he wants more student voices in the process and is hoping to get more involvement by hosting several CUAB open houses during the year.

“It’s frustrating for us when students are unhappy with the events that we plan because we want them to be involved with us,” Low said.

“We want people to come and join us. The door to the CUAB office will be open every day until the Union closes.”

Contact the desk editor at arts@dailytarheel.com.