We need more arts in the Union

I always enjoy attending other universities events just to see how campus life is outside of A&T, and every time I start to secretly wish that I attended another university in Greensboro.

The new buildings or diverse community is not the only thing that grasps my attention at other universities in Guilford County, but it’s the numerous events that take place there that are cultural and available to anyone.

This past Friday I decided to go to UNCG’s campus for an open mic event that a organization was throwing for students in Cone Ballroom. When I arrived to the place the people at the front desk told me I arrived too early and that the event starts in two hours. I walked around the building trying to find something to do to pass the time until a security stopped me and asked if I was looking for the Chinese Opera event.

I lied and said yea! Number one, I was curious about the event and two I have never been to an Opera before. He escorted me to the auditorium where the event took place and told me that I would be fine without a ticket. I walked into the auditorium, found a seat and saw my first ever opera in Chinese.

I saw multiple bright colors, live music, and incredible stunt performances in the show. I thought to myself wow, if only A&T could have something like this for their students. After the event was over I was just in time to go to the open mic event that I originally sought out for. A former Capitol Records artist, Javier was performing, along with Def Jam Poets. This event also provided free desserts.

Once the event was over I thought my night with UNCG was done until I ran into some art students that were putting together an exhibit that was opening the next day. I chatted with the artists, felt inspired and enjoyed looking at their project.

My one event plan at UNCG turned into a three event plan that was accomplished in one night and was all located in one building. Attending these events gave me the chance to see what the art majors were doing, what theater is doing, and what certain organizations are doing at UNCG’s campus because, it was taken place in their student union. That night

I felt like A&T should offer more cultural events, like UNCG.
Now, UNCG has money, but A&T does too and money is not the issue of getting organizations better events to put on campus, especially in the student union. Us, students should double up the interest and demand it.

I’m tired of A&T organizations throwing parties. There is nothing wrong with them, but there are other avenues for entertainment. I love African dance, but can I see some ballet or belly dancing for once?

I feel like the only events that are featured on campus for students are panel discussion, gym jams and talent shows. Aren’t you guys tired of talking about bettering our community? Can we take a month’s break on it, the discussion is never ending, like discussions about relationships.

All of those talks are draining and quite frankly I’m tired of talking. I rather get a ticket to see a Chinese Opera or comedy show that A&T provided at the student union, a central location on campus.

Theater and our dance troupes do a great job with creating fun ful-filled events for students but I know there are other organizations on campus who should create more events as well, like the Art Circle. The students at the the art department only gets to show their artwork twice a year, the student art show and senior art show. Why do I know more of what the art students are doing at UNCG then my own campus? 

When I walk on our campus and I enter the student union I rarely see events, just meetings, and practices. Even when I look on the events calendar I see more information about weekly meetings and our favorite, panel discussion, then actual entertainment events. Is it possible that we can book a successful show to come here at A&T that is culturally educational? Or could we just fund more of our student organizations so they can actually throw meaningful events for students to create a more active campus life, that revolves around our student union?

What everybody should know and understand that the organizations on campus, represents our culture at A&T. If we don’t have active organizations, which heavily include the arts, we don’t have a well-represented campus-life. Theater sets the tone for A&T culture but I know we have other talented students outside of theater.

I also know that we have students on campus who really appreciates art from other cultures. We have people from France, Mexico, and Brazil walking on our campus, so A&T does indeed have a diverse community, (look at our baseball team).  So, why not cater to it?

Attending an HBCU should not deprive you of you worldly arts. Performances derived from Africa are wonderful and being able to see exhibits and dances on campus that expresses African pride is beautiful and I love it! But it shouldn’t be our only option for being culturally educated. Students should have a taste of all cultures or at least have it available to them.
We should respect our arts on this campus more and demand more art exhibits from OUR STUDENTS.

We should also want programs like S.W.I.M. to do more events that provide recording artists to come on campus. We should see all talented poets that are not in poetry groups have the opportunity to spit. Fashion majors that designs their own clothing line should do a fashion show in the student union, so students could see the talent that goes on in that department.

I’m waiting for the day where we really utilize the student union, and the best student productions held there. I want to be able to walk in on a Wednesday night and find something to do other then watching people eat chicken wings or hang out near the fountain. A&T needs to amplify our arts from the students and for the students.

And, I repeat, if that means we need more funds for the arts then give us more funds. I shouldn’t have to go to UNCG to find something that we potentially already have on campus just never had the chance to present it. And I shouldn’t have to search all over campus to find student related events, my first guess should be the Student Union. Let’s please, utilize it for the future.