Even though University Union has not even closed the book for its final act of the year, it has already started planning and prepping for its opening concert for the fall semester.

UU is laying the groundwork for Sept. 3’s Juice Jam by recruiting organizations to table and host the activities, as well as sketching out plans for artists and the audience.

Though no acts have been booked yet, UU already plans to increase the number of tickets to just fewer than 5,000, the maximum number it can have in the audience. A larger audience means legal issues and mandatory safety precautions, including hiring a helicopter for the event, said UU Concert’s co-chair Adam Gorode. Last year, the 3,000 tickets sold out in three days.

Last Juice Jam’s location in the Lawrinson Hall parking lot will probably be used again, though moving it to South Campus has been discussed, Gorode said.

UU is currently taking suggestions for possible artists for the concert. Gorode hopes to have a rock act headline, to balance out Snoop Dogg’s performance at this weekend’s Block Party.

Bids will be sent out after exams end, just as artists are planning their fall touring schedules, Gorode said. Students have so far suggested the usual favorites, including Green Day, Jack Johnson and the Foo Fighters. Most of the festival, including activities and entertainment, will be planned over the summer.

‘UU is open 12 months a year,’ Gorode said.

Though the heart of Juice Jam is the music, a major component is the tables and activities hosted by some of SU’s 300 student organizations.

‘It’s an event where UU can introduce new students to old and all students to student organizations,’ Gorode said.

Last year, about 70 groups set up tables and ran activities ranging from lemonade stands to root beer pong, said Rebecca Zeller, a junior music industry major who is recruiting organizations, despite being abroad in London this semester. Zeller has heard from about 30 groups so far, and hopes to have 150 to 200 present at Juice Jam.

‘Everyone who participated last year really enjoyed it,’ Zeller said in an e-mail, ‘and those who I’ve heard from are very enthusiastic about signing up again.’

All student organizations are invited to set up tables, and those who wish to host an activity, such as root beer pong, must submit a budget for UU to review before funding them, said Ellen King, director of student events, who is working with UU to plan Juice Jam.

The tables were popular, Zeller said. Juice Jam has a no re-admittance rule that gives students time to mill about and see the activities and organizations, she said.

‘There are a lot of activities; you have food, you have music and if it’s good weather, you’re outside,’ King said. ‘I think it’s a great way for students to come together.’

There are still a lot of details to be worked out before the concert, King said. Though she is helping UU book the headlining act, she is also in charge of the logistics-contacting Public Safety, Food Services and Physical Plant.

‘It’s the stuff that’s not exactly glamorous or fun, but it’s the stuff that makes the event happen,’ she said.

A variety of student organizations, such as the Goon Squad and University 100, will be volunteering for setup and other behind-the-scenes work, King said.

‘We don’t want anyone to think that it’s just our event,’ she said. ‘Anyone can help out.’

Last year, the Office of Transition Services heavily promoted the event to new freshmen, Gorode said. UU anticipates more upperclassmen to attend this year, since they have already heard about last year’s success.

‘Long term, I can see this becoming a tradition at SU,’ he said.

Published on April 27, 2005 at 12:00 pm