While University Union finishes the fall semester with an event-filled week, the executive board is busy planning for next semester.

‘UU is wrapping up the semester this week with several events,’ said Elizabeth Knickerbocker, UU director of programming.

Wednesday, UU Speakers sponsored a lecture from Paul Rusesabagina, the man who inspired the film, ‘Hotel Rwanda.’

UU has been in the process of planning for next semester for several weeks.

Next semester’s budget was approved by the Student Association in November, and UU is looking at various artists’ availability in order to secure quality events, said Dennis Jacobs, president of UU.

‘When we come back from break, UU is going to be everywhere on campus,’ Jacobs said.

In January, UU will be holding a general interest meeting. The executive board encourages any students interested in getting involved to attend the meeting, Jacobs said.

UU will also be launching a new programming campaign and Web site. The Web site will contain all the information about UU events, as well as information on the entertainment world in general, Jacobs said.

UU wants the Web site to be a big focus point where students can go to find out about future events, a feature it has been lacking in the past, Jacobs said.

‘The Web site will be there to connect UU to the student body,’ Knickerbocker said.

To further connect with the student body, UU will also be launching a campus-wide programming survey, which will ask what kind of concerts, comedians and speakers students would like to see the organization bring to campus, Jacobs said.

‘We are looking to get to every student on campus,’ Jacobs said. ‘We always take student feedback into account when choosing who to bring to campus.’

Next semester, UU Cinemas will be showing such movies as ‘Walk the Line,’ ‘Rent,’ ‘Transamerica,’ ‘King Kong,’ ‘Brokeback Mountain’ and ‘Goodnight and Good Luck,’ said Rachel Richwine, co-director of UU Cinemas.

UU will also continue its goal of becoming the official SU programming board.

‘We will be working on being recognized as the official programming board until we achieve that status,’ Jacobs said. ‘It is the only part missing from UU.’

The executive board believes UU can best serve the student body by being granted the official programming board status, Jacobs said.

‘We really want to be there for the students,’ Knickerbocker said.

Current UU Vice President and Student Association President-elect Wayne Horton will be leaving UU next semester when he fills the SA position.

‘UU is going to be doing things after I leave,’ Horton said. ‘I am looking forward to working with UU as SA president and to improving the relationship between the two organizations.’

The UU executive board will be filling Horton’s position after winter break. The executive board is trying to get many people to apply for his vacated position, Horton said.

‘UU will be in good hands after I leave,’ Horton said.

Published on December 5, 2005 at 12:00 pm