SPC schedules an eventful week for UPRoar

Ashley Lapadula/Staff Writer

 Over 3,000 students are expected to attend and have already grabbed tickets to this year’s UPRoar concert. The annual spring concert will be featuring the MTV Music Video Awards’ Best New Artist of 2007, “Gym Class Heroes” and Sean Michael Anderson, also known by his stage name, “Big Sean.”

The Student Programming Council has put together a week of activities that will be followed by the concert. UPRoar, which stands for University Park Roar (MMC’s former name),  is the week-long series of events containing a comedy show, pit event, concert and movie in which students and alumni are invited to take part in giveaways and other activities.

With the concert only a few weeks away, Lukas Calafell, the president of SPC, shared some insight on this year’s event. Putting together an event like this one requires much work from staff members and the students.

“Vice presidents, advisors and the Campus Life publication staff have held crucial roles in planning for UPRoar,” said Calafell.

“The first thing that was done was a survey that was sent to students back in the fall semester, giving them an opportunity to give feedback regarding important aspects, from what genre of music they’d like to hear to what they want the overall concert experience to be like,” said Calafell.

In November 2011, SPC met several times to discuss artist selection. After reviewing the survey responses, the council began to review their options by talking to the artists’ agents and taking into account their fees for the performance.

“One of the most challenging tasks would be choosing the artists. There are many factors that play into choosing the artists, some which students may not know affect our options,” said Calafell.

He continued by saying, “Students will be able to express their feedback and preferences the way that it has been done this year, through the survey that’s made public via our social media outlets.

During UPRoar week, SPC will hold a contest where two winners will receive backstage passes to the concert and meet the artists.

Ticket distribution started on March 8 and tickets will continue to be distributed until they run out. Students who are interested in attending should stop by the Campus Life office,located in GC 2240, during office hours to pick up a ticket with their FIU One Card.Students must present their IDs with their ticket upon arrival at the concert which will be at the soccer field at MMC.

Both of the artists performing have songs that students have probably heard while driving around town or at local clubs and bars. Historically, artists aim to please by playing their best known songs. Some of the songs to look out for during the concert will be Big Sean’s hits, such as “Marvin Gaye and Chardonnay” from his latest album “Finally Famous” and “My Last,” featuring Chris Brown.

During the Gym Class Heroes’ set, students will probably expect to hear ridiculously popular songs, like “Stereo Hearts” and “Cupid’s Chokehold.”

The week’s events leading up to the concert will start on Monday, April 9 with a pit event in GC from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by a comedy show featuring Anthony Jeselnik at 6 p.m. in the GC Ballrooms. Jeselnik was a writer for “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” and other TV shows and was named one of Comedy Central’s breakout comedians of 2009. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for the comedy show. Finishing the week off on Friday, April 13, SPC will feature a movie in GC 140 at two showtimes: 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

The UPRoar concert will take place on Wednesday, April 11 at 7 p.m. There will be no bags , re-entry, outside food or drinks allowed inside the event. To stay connected and follow the event closely, SPC recommends students follow them on Twitter, @FIUSPC, and Facebook, FIU SPC.

SPC hopes that students are excited for the event that marks the beginning of the end of the spring semester.

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