University Union 101
By Polly Gilmore and Rhylee Hudson, University Union Editorial Executive Board, Social Media Board Liaison and Assistant Editor
University Union has been keeping SU students entertained since 1962, but what exactly does that mean? We are the official programming board of Syracuse University, and we bring the Syracuse community together through music, comedy, movies, and so much more. UU’s 85 members, led by President Naimah Rahman and Vice President Enoca Shin, make up 11 executive boards that each play equally important roles in bringing you the very best in entertainment. The intense passion, dedication, and excitement from our members and our amazing audiences (including our readers!) have allowed UU to become one of the most successful student-run programming boards in the country! So, allow us to introduce you to our team…
Cinemas:
Do you like movies? Do you like watching movies with your friends? We all know that the answer is “YES!” Meet the Cinemas Board, the crew behind our weekly screenings of the best new films–and yes, free popcorn is included, obviously. Jojo Blain, one of the Film Series Coordinators, had a lot to say about being a part of the board: “I’ve already met so many people through UU from different majors, and it’s great to be able to build those relationships! Being in Cinemas has been great; I love getting to see students come with their friends to see a movie again or for the first time.” Be sure you don’t miss this week’s showing of Challengers on September 13th in the HBC Gifford Auditorium at 8 p.m!
Collaborations:
If you have attended a UU event in the past, then you have witnessed our Collaborations Board in action. This team reaches out to various brands, such as NYX, Amazon, Pepsi, and Rockstar, who supply free products for our events. They are also responsible for setting up a range of other fun activities: from photo booths, to inflatables, to the uber-popular Stuff-A-Buddies. For every UU event, the Collaborations Board makes sure that there is more than just the main act for entertainment.
Concerts:
Events are at the heart of University Union, and trust us when we say our Concerts Board knows how to put on a show. From Juice Jam to Block Party to student shows to partnerships with Multicultural Organizations and everything in between, the Concerts Board brings amazing artists to Syracuse for once-in-a-lifetime lineups. And speaking of once-in-a-lifetime lineups, they’re the team behind Quavo, Maisie Peters, and Smino’s Juice Jam performances! And no, they’re not going to tell you the lineup before it gets announced, so please stop asking them (they beg).
Photo By Leigh Võ
Design:
Our Design Board works tirelessly to deliver the coolest graphics on campus. All of our posters, logos, and merchandise are designed by the board. Sophomore designer Goldie Singer shares her favorite things about being on this board: “I love to be able to collaborate with such awesome [and] cool people!” The designers frequently collaborate with our Marketing Board to be able to reach the whole student body through unique merchandise pieces for each event. Look out for the Design team’s amazing work in all things University Union!
DEIA:
To ensure that our events are safe, fun, and accessible for all, our DEIA Board is constantly educating themselves and our entire organization on what we can do to improve and expand our efforts in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. The only way to evolve is to grow and learn about everyone that you are trying to reach, and with the help of the DEIA team, we are able to ensure that we host events that represent and reach out to our entire student body.
Editorial (The Universe):
We’re writing this article! The Editorial Board runs University Union’s blog, “The Universe.” We cover University Union events, the music scene at SU, current pop culture trends, and so much more. If you like to write, report, or interview people about what they love, then Editorial is the place to be. We work to understand what you, the students at Syracuse, want to know and which exciting new artists you want to hear about. Here at The Universe, we take our writing skills to the next level by attending both on and off-campus events to give you the very best coverage of all things entertainment.
Marketing:
When it comes to merchandise, the Marketing Board always knows what the people want. Marketing Assistant Josh Chun reflects, “Last semester, Joe Gatto came for a [Performing Arts] event where we handed out University Union-branded potato squishies—that’s still my favorite item. The Marketing Board is one of the best ways to get hands-on experience within UU and to get to know everyone [in] the [organization]!” Potato squishies, t-shirts, water pouches, stickers–you name it, the Marketing Board has it covered. Merch is available at every UU event, so make sure you pick up something for yourself at the next one!
Performing Arts:
From student comedians to SNL stars, the Performing Arts Board brings every non-musical act to SU. Jake Shane, Jeanette McCurdy, Kate Mckinnon, and Issa Rae are just a few of the iconic names who have graced the Goldstein Auditorium over the past few years. The Performing Arts Board is no stranger to a sold out show, so be sure to be on the lookout for upcoming events!
Photo By Vivian Porter
Productions:
Memorable moments are so important, and in order to capture all the unforgettable entertainment moments that happen at University Union events, our Productions Board has got us covered. Our incredible, creative staff of videographers, photographers, editors, and assistants make sure to bring you the best view in the house for each and every event. Interested in joining but worried you don’t have enough experience? There are opportunities to grow within this board (and every board!)–not to mention the chance to photograph some of the biggest stars in entertainment!
Photo By Troy Conner
Public Relations:
Have a question regarding one of our events? Allow us to introduce you to our Public Relations Board! This board works closely with our President, Vice President, artists, and artist teams, in order to make sure everything runs smoothly. In addition to ensuring that show days flow properly, our Public Relations team handles all press matters, including managing our relationships with other student-run publications on Syracuse’s campus.
Social Media:
If you follow University Union on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook, then you’ve seen our Social Media Board in action. They are consistently working to keep up with all of the latest trends and bring you the University Union updates you need. From dropping event lineups to keeping you up-to-date with our weekly Cinemas screenings, if you’re a Syracuse/SUNY ESF student (or an avid entertainment lover), our Social Media Board will keep you in the loop with all things UU.
So, now you know a bit about University Union! We are so excited and honored to be your on-campus entertainment providers! Interested in joining the excitement? Stop by our General Interest Meeting on September 30th at 7:30 PM in the Watson Theater!
