During the fall, the Carolina Union Activities Board came under fire for its choice of Homecoming concert acts, a back-to-back affair that drew fewer than 900 students combined to Memorial Hall.
Responses from students centered on the fact that both artists, country band Gloriana and hip-hop artist Earl Sweatshirt, did not draw in wide fan bases or were not considered famous enough.
But many students curiously seem to forget that Carolina Performing Arts brings world-class performers from a variety of genres to Memorial Hall with almost weekly regularity.
Performances, while not the typical popular music one might hear on the radio, feature such diverse elements as dance, jazz, classical music, theatre and more. Acts from all over the world, even as far away as St. Petersburg, Russia, give attendees a glimpse (or a listen) into cultures both foreign and familiar.
Those looking for big names will find them in acts like Yo-Yo Ma, Alvin Ailey, Wynton Marsalis, and Youssou N’Dour — all of which invariably end up filling most of Memorial Hall’s 1434 seats.
And for undergraduate and graduate students, tickets for those seats, bought in advance, are always just $10.
It makes little sense, then, for students to bemoan some concert acts when they are presented with the opportunity to experience so many unique forms of entertainment at such an accessible price.
Memorial Hall is a gateway for students to engage with the typical goals of the college experience by expanding horizons and gaining new perspectives. Let’s all take the first step and acknowledge the presence of incredible talent before clamoring for more.
