By Brooks Rice
The people who work for the Student Activities Board are akin to those who have any other sort of 9 to 5 office job. But, these people donÕt commute in solely for work everyday, only to go back to the suburbs in the evening to the wife and kids. The people who work for the SAB are our fellow students. They take the many responsibilities if their job alongside their full academic work. In exchange for their work in the SAB, they are reimbursed the cost of their college tuition.
Mary Ann Vetter, a junior political science major, works for the “concerts/comedy” section of the SAB. The concerts/comedy section is one of seven divisions of the SAB, the others being films, variety, diversity, special interest, novelty, lecture and homecoming. Among VetterÕs duties is arranging the new Comedy Caravan stand-up comedy series at U of L. She makes regular contact with their Comedy Caravan booking agent, Tom Sobel, on what acts will perform. There are performances the first Tuesday of every month at 8pm in the Red Barn. Vetter estimated that, for their premier show in September, there were “over 100 students” in attendance. There is free food at the events. Among the upcoming comics performing at U of L are, in October, Alex Reymundo and Will Hardesty, and, in November, comedians from BET.
For October 18, Vetter helped schedule the Alcohol Awareness Day, which she describes as “unity through music”. The event will feature numerous musical acts of both rock and rap genres. Vetter says she gets “a new demo tape every day” from a new band, all destined to become the next Scorpions. Regardless ofeach bandÕs ultimate level of success, IÕm sure the event will “rock you likea hurricane”. There is also a “battle of the bands” being set up for April.Vetter says two years ago they had lined up female rock star Sheryl Crow for aconcert here at U of L. Crow, however, “cancelled on us twice”, Vetter says.All of the many Sheryl Crow fanatics were in mourning.
Chris Marlin, a junior majoring in finance, is in charge of arranging filmsfor the theater in the Student Activities Center. Marlin, alongside DonnyGeralds, schedules two different films each month. Marlin says, of the twelvemajor film companies, he can only schedule films from two of them. Because theten others grossly overcharge for the rights to their films, Marlins primarilyrelies on the more affordable New Line Cinema and FOX. I guess Rupert Murdochhas a heart after all. Marlin does, however, find the frequent occasion toschedule from the other production companies through their agency, Swank (no,not the infamous smut periodical). Among films Marlin plans on showing areMoulin Rouge, Planet Of The Apes, The Hobbit, Fight Club, American History X,and SchindlerÕs List. Marlin also says they are going to show two sneakpreviews: Wife Of The House and Kapax (both of which are free of charge fromthe studios).
The special interest committee has lined up a “murder mystery dinner”. Similarto the Derby Dinner Playhouse here in town, the murder mystery dinner is anevent where you eat while you watch a theatrical production. While you helpyourself to the gourmet wonders of Kentucky Fried Chicken, you watch a murdermystery play. Once the play concludes, each table gets to decide who themurderer is. The winning table gets a prize, perhaps a whiskey flask from thelate Colonel Sanders.
The guys at the SAB work tirelessly in their jobs. It is a position one has toapply for after working for free as a freshman. LetÕs all support their hardwork and go to the events they give us.
