CUAB to offer varied programs

Only one group brings films, air guitar championships and LocoPops to campus: the Carolina Union Activities Board.

CUAB uses student fees to fund all of its programing and brings a variety of activities to campus.

“Each student has paid for what our group puts on,” said Amanda Kao, CUAB president. “We make it our job to bring diverse, fun activities so everyone can enjoy them.”

There are 18 committees as part of the group, specializing in areas from film to aesthetic expression.

A few new committees were created this year, including the media features and aesthetic expression committees.

The media features will focus on generating publicity for CUAB and the aesthetic expression committee is “centered around beautiful things,” Kao said.

Some committees are more recognizable than others, such as the film, fun and music committees.

The film committee brings recently released film s to the Union Auditorium. There are two screenings every weekend on Friday and Saturday. Admission is free with a valid OneCard.

“We just try to do everything we can to offer a variety of movies to everybody,” said Kevin Nguyen, chairman of the film committee.

The first film of the year for the group is “Slumdog Millionaire,” Nguyen said.

Occasionally the committee also has special advance screenings before movies have wide release.

The music committee brings both local and big-name music acts to campus, such as Andrew Bird and the Avett Brothers last year.

“My committee constantly strives for diversity, which means having a creative group of students who are devoted to bringing in new kinds of artists and performers that will urge students to broaden their musical experiences and interests,” Adele Ricciardi, chairwoman of the committee, said in an e-mail.

CUAB has programs in the Student Union, such as the air guitar championships, but it also has events around campus, such as Sue Johanson’s visit to Memorial Hall last year.

This summer the group hosted programs on South Campus, and Kao said she wants to continue this during the semester.

“Wherever students are, that’s where we’re going to go,” Kao said.

Students can join different committees and find more information at the CUAB Gets Back event on Sept. 10.

Though every committee has control of its own programming, Kao said her theme for the year is love — love for campus, students and the organization.

“I’m really hoping they give love and receive it just the same from their programs,” she said.

Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.