Extraordinary Contributions to Campus Life
The Cultural Attractions Committee effectively provides the university with diverse, educational, high-caliber, and wide-ranging events and programs. This year’s features included an Irish dance company, the mambo sounds of 1950’s New York, the Moscow Festival Ballet, South African music and dance, and an Israeli violinist, widely regarded as the best in the world. Laurel Gilmer is the group’s chair.
The Campus Entertainment Board has provided the university with a variety of fun, free activities including a Welcome Week Battle of the Bands, an outdoor movie in the Presidential Court complex, and a concert held in the University Center Auditorium. The most noteworthy event of the year was “Vol Night Long,” a substance-free, late-night program, which attracted its largest crowd ever—1,200 students. The event featured all-night bowling and billiards, free food, a DJ, karaoke, caricature artists, a beer-goggle sobriety test from the Knoxville Police Department, and more. The group also hosts the annual “Volapalooza” concert, a student favorite featuring nationally known acts. Jennifer Cavanaugh chairs the Campus Entertainment Board.
Student Alumni Associates works to enrich the relationship between students and alumni and provide an increased sense of school spirit and knowledge of the university’s history and traditions. Last semester alone, SAA gave 3,000 hours of service back to the university and community. This year, SAA was given the opportunity of assisting with the Howard H. Baker Jr. and Sir Winston Churchill Trans-Atlantic Alliance and the week of events that went with it. The group assisted the conference by helping to transport visiting dignitaries and hosting some of the conference events. SAA activities also included Skybox hosting, Big Orange Tree Wrapping, 30 alumni chapter meetings across the Southeast, Homecoming activities, Race for the Cure, Relay for Life, Dance Marathon, Volunteer Alumni Network parties, and much more. This year’s president is Kaitlin Cooper.
