They are the campus event planners at Clarion. They bring “Real World” cast members to the campus, host open-mic nights for wannabe performers and offer a craft series for creative students.
The University Activities Board (UAB) works to develop and schedule activities to make each year memorable. “The University Activities Board (UAB) is the programming body for the Clarion University student population. Through its various committees, UAB sponsors a wide variety of events, activities and programs,” according to the Clarion University Web site.
“UAB is a student-run organization that does a lot of the event planning on campus. We have various committees, and we all work to provide fun events and entertainment that meet the wants and needs of all of the students at Clarion,” said Kristi McManus, the president of UAB.
Eight committees make up UAB. These include; Arts, CampusFest, Lecture, Multicultural, Public Relations, Recreation, Special Events and Gemmell Activities. This committees work together to put schedule special events to keep the student population entertained throughout the year.
UAB committee members and staff spend most of their year working hard to make the year fun for students. Without UAB and its activity calendar, the student population would have to seek its own leisure time activities and entertainment.
“It is our job to see that we entertain through a wide verity of activities and lectures for the student population. Everyone who walks by us, it is our job to see that they are entertained, and if we don’t do that job, we will hear about it,” said Chris Myers, UAB technology coordinator.
UAB is always trying to bring something different to the table when it comes to events and lectures. Doing the same thing over and over would bore the students because there would be no variety. It is UAB’s function to keep the student population happy and entertained with events and to keep them coming to more events. This year, UAB has many new events planned to attract student interest. Coming up next week, a comedy tour will be making a stop at Clarion University. Ben Bailey and Bo Burnham will be performing 8 p.m. Oct. 23 at Marwick-Boyd Auditorium in an effort to give students something new.
Sometimes the effort that goes into putting on these events goes unnoticed.
“I feel that students don’t always get the full extent of what we do. There are many students who appreciate the events we put on, but I don’t think some students realize how much work goes into many of our events. There is a great deal of planning that goes on, and we do the best we
can to target the diverse range of students on campus,” McManus said.
Myers said the key word to get students to come to events is simple – “free.” UAB has noticed that students respond more to events that provide free promotional items, such has shirts, meals, and other things like the free “stuff and plush” during Valentine’s day. If the end result of an event is that the students get to walk away with something, then it tends to be more successful.
“Unfortunately the dynamics on campus is as follows: We have more than a thousand commuters, the majority that live here go home on the weekend, and a lot of them would rather party… we have to try to fight all those,” Myers said.
UAB is hoping for more support from students, not only support by coming to the events, but getting involved in UAB. The organization is hoping to get more students interested in working with UAB to get more input on new events to attract students. More information is available by contacting or visiting UAB, located on the second floor of the Gemmell Student Complex, Room 249. UAB weekly board meetings are held 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays in Room 246 of the Gemmell Student Complex. The meetings are open to the public.