University Union (UU) is the official student-run programming board at Syracuse University. You may have heard of UU for putting on concerts like Juice Jam during the fall semester and Block Party in the spring semester, but there’s a lot more to know about UU. The org has a long history of events and large name artists that I never knew about. Here are 5 things I learned about UU:
1. University Union hosts a variety of different events.
I am sure everyone is aware of the semesterly concerts that UU puts on every year like Juice Jam and Block Party. However, I was not aware that UU puts on more events than just concerts. They occasionally host comedy shows and lectures, and every weekend there are movie screenings in partnership with Orange After Dark. They have had Q&A panels with comedian Erik Andre and hosted movie premieres on the Quad. Be sure to check out their calendar for any upcoming events!
(P.S. Block Party 2022 has been announced! Gunna, Baby Keem, 070 Shake and A-Trak are scheduled to perform on Friday, April 29.)
2. UU has been putting on events since 1962.
UU has been one of Syracuse’s main sources of entertainment since 1962. On Sunday, Sept. 29, 1968, the first major act, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, performed at the War Memorial during Orientation Week. Tickets were only $3! Over the course of the next five decades, UU continued to bring big name artists to the SU campus. Some notable performers include: The Police, Billy Joel, Destiny’s Child (including Beyonce), Kanye West, Diplo and Jack Harlow. UU will be hosting a 60th Anniversary Celebration on the Quad on Friday, April 29.
3. The UU website features their own blog.
Looking for pop culture and campus content? Check out the University Union Blog where new content is posted every week. My favorite posts are “10 Best Trader Joes Finds” and their “Current Favorite Tik Tok Trends” article.
4. UU is entirely student run.
University Union is known for bringing some of the most popular artists to perform on campus and it’s all entirely done by students! For events like Juice Jam that is held in September, the UU team begins planning the event all the way back in May! The process involves surveying the student population to gain awareness of what artist they want to see. Next, students will reach out to booking agents in order to understand pricing and availability of certain artists. Once an artist is being booked, UU students begin ordering and creating merchandise, planning stage design and working on ticketing and safety precautions. Once the new semester begins, the PR and marketing teams work together to promote the concert and design flyers and social media graphics to spread the word.
5. There are over 9 different departments that you can be a part of!
Interested in being part of University Union? You’re in luck because all Syracuse University and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry students are eligible to become a general member. No matter your major or your interest, UU offers it all. From web designers to social media assistants, they even have a position for a silent disco specialist. For more information about applying to be part of the e-board or a general member, you can visit their website or reach out to them via email.
Written by Haley Mykytka ’22, College of Visual and Performing Arts