[Jake]

I heard someone say the other day that UA has no place for concerts. I responded with, "Don't let Live Nation Hear you say that." This was a student who "claimed" to be on "the program board" at one time and claimed that E.J. Thomas is not meant for concerts and that was why "they" couldn't bring concert to campus. I responded that perhaps he was taking that position so as to have an excuse for not being good at his job on the "program board.".

If E.J. is not meant for concerts, then where was I when I saw Nora Jones, Tran Siberian Orchestra, One Republic, Seather, Colbie Callet, Bob Dylan, Jethro Tull, Stephen Nash, Bruce Sprinstien, The Cleveland Orchestra and the Akron Symphony and many, many more? I could have sworn I saw all of these groups on the University of Akron campus in Thomas Hall.

I've heard this wives’ tale before and it is usually spread by uninformed and gullible UA students who can be convinced to sell their mothers to the pigmies.

The fact is UA built E.J. primarily for concerts and with the versatility to handle Ballets, Speakers and Plays. The confusion sets in when some in Akron's arts community voice their OPINION that Thomas Hall is not very good acoustically for unamplified classical symphonies and orchestras. While there may be some legitimate basis for this claim, it remains just someone's OPINION.

As far as concerts other than classical symphonies and orchestras which are AMPLIFIED, E.J. Thomas Hall is one of the best places in Northern Ohio to attend a concert in. If you haven't tried it, make a point of doing so.

And keep them coming, Live Nation!

[urbanpreppie05]

I heard someone say the other day that UA has no place for concerts. I responded with, "Don't let Live Nation Hear you say that." This was a student who "claimed" to be on "the program board" at one time and claimed that E.J. Thomas is not meant for concerts and that was why "they" couldn't bring concert to campus. I responded that perhaps he was taking that position so as to have an excuse for not being good at his job on the "program board.".

Name 5 student events that you've planned from start to finish.

They are not an all campus program board.

http://www.uakron.edu/studentlife/zpn/index.php (sad it hasn't been updated in awhile though.)

[Jake]

I heard someone say the other day that UA has no place for concerts. I responded with, "Don't let Live Nation Hear you say that." This was a student who "claimed" to be on "the program board" at one time and claimed that E.J. Thomas is not meant for concerts and that was why "they" couldn't bring concert to campus. I responded that perhaps he was taking that position so as to have an excuse for not being good at his job on the "program board.".

Name 5 student events that you've planned from start to finish.

They are not an all campus program board.

http://www.uakron.edu/studentlife/zpn/index.php (sad it hasn't been updated in awhile though.)

Thanks for the site for the Zips Programming Network (not RHPB). Unlike RHPB, they are or are suppose to be an all campus programming board.

Here are some programs I and other UA students not only planned but presented: Chicago - Memorial Hall: 3,600 in attendance, The Fifth Dimension - Memorial Hall: 3,500 in attendance, Bread - Memorial Hall: 3000 in attendance, Dionne Warwick - Memorial Hall: 3,000 in attendance, Stevie Wonder - Memorial Hall: 3,000 in attendance, The Eagles - Memorial Hall: 3,500 in attendance, J. Geils - Memorial Hall: 3,600 in attendance(Homecoming), Lynard Skynard - Memorial Hall: 3,000 in attendance, Jane Fonda - Knight Auditorium (Leigh Hall): over 500 in attendance, Cheech & Chong - Thomas Hall: 3,000 in attendance, Michael Stanley Band - Thomas Hall: 2,500 in attendance, Dave Mason - Memorial Hall: over 3,700 in attendance (we slipped the fire marshall a present for this one), Brian Auger - Thomas Hall: 3,012 in attendance, Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Thomas Hall: 3,000 in attendance, McKendree Spring - Thomas Hall: 2,300 in attendance, William Kunstler Anti-war activist and attorney for the Chicago 7 speaker - Knight Auditorium: over 500 in attendance (same fire marshall), Vincent Bugliosi (chief prosecutor who put Charles Manson behind bars) - Thomas Hall: 3,000 in attendance, Madelyn Murray O'Hare ( nationally known atheist) - Knight Auditorium: 500 in attendance, Margaret Mead, world renowned Anthropologist - Knight Auditorium: 500 in attendance.

My point in answering your request is to point out that even though I was involved and in a leadership position in most of these shows, it's not about me or what I did. Many UA students made it their job to be on a volunteer programming board and actually accomplished things by doing their work and doint it well. They didn't go around making excuses about how they can't do this and they can't do that. Did we get obstacles thrown in our way by UA administrators? You bet we did, but for the most part we persevered because we wanted to see great things happen on our campus as opposed to just wanting to belong to a program board because it will look good on our school record or resume. Gotta get that Honor A- Key Award!

When administrators told us we couldn't put major shows in Memorial Hall due to an alleged lack of electrical power in that facility, we came back with "no problem, we'll rent a generator" and we did just that. When they said, we couldn't bring a promoter on campus due to policy, we demanded they change that policy or give us an honest reason why not. When they said that promoters would exploit the student body for their money, we illustrated to them and the rest of the student body that that was a lie and demanded they discard the policy. They did and consequently we made money for our organization by working with promoters to bring great events to the campus. And, we filled venues over and over and over again.

When they claimed at the 11th hour that our planned Lynard Skynard concert for Thomas Hall had to be moved to Memorial Hall due to a malfunction inthe moveable ceiling, we insisted that we be allowed to come into the hall and view the alleged "broken ceiling". We were physically blocked by the Hall's staff and they won that one. Funny, we didn't have time to rent that generator for Memorial Hall for this last minute venue change, yet pulled off the concert with a great light and sound show. lack of power my arse!

So, I had to laugh at the recent student who claimed that they can't have concerts on campus because Thomas Hall is not really meant for concerts. Yeaaaaa, right! Someone has over cooked matso balls for testicles if you ask me.

The issue here is that it can be done. You just have to want to do it. I only wish we had the quality university president and other administrators back then that students have now. I have a hunch obstacles would have been much more easy to overcome if we did. The UA campus is ripe for great things to happen on it. They have many great facilities and sub-venues for activities, major concerts and presentations befitting a public university of its size and stature. I hope and trust that these opportunities will be taken full advantage of by today's students and the administration that appears to want to support them. Go Zips!

[urbanpreppie05]

Jake, your post is so big i decided not to quote it...:-)

Reading the IMPRESSIVE list of concerts/speakers makes me so, so jealous...it really, really does.

The student who told you that EJ Thomas wasnt really a concert hall is um..yeah. When I was a part of UPB/ZPN we did try to work with EJ- but, they held a high, high majority of space/time/money for events. When a group of students did want to do something- it basically was either A.Shutdown for lack of involvement, or B. When it did happen, few people came. You said that people joined these boards to help the community, which i WISH I had had then and now- sadly, people dont see the point in voluteering for anything (or the benefits that come with this position are not worth their time), something i noticed as a student and now as an administrator.

That's not to say that we didn't try-and succeed. The Annual Price is Right Game Show (now in its 5th year) was my idea. As was the Root Beer Kegger. During my time, we had the school's first ever African-american homecoming queen. ZPN also took over the movie series for the Gardner Theater as it was almost cancelled. In my perspective, when I was on the board, we focused on battles we could win and would bring as many people as possible. Looking at the super, super outdated website, i wonder if this is still the case. (FB is fine- but people STILL need updated webpages). We were a small, but determined group to put on events for a student body that is largely apathetic and even resistant to activities.

In spite of the wonderful facilities, apathy is still a factor. :-(