Goo Goo Dolls to rock the Hoop on Tuesday
News • April 1, 2011 • The Oracle
Tuesday night, the Hooper Eblen Center will be packed with students
eager to see the Goo Goo Dolls, Vertical Horizon and Jeff Leblanc in
concert.
Though the event is only a few days away, planning for it has been an
ongoing task since November. The concert has been a combined effort of
SGA, the Student Organization Life Opportunity Fund and Student
Activities.
Katie Williams, University Planning coordinator, has also taken a lead role in planning for the concert.
"I've done Dancing on Dixie since 2005," Williams said, "and I help in
putting together a concert every spring. Those don't involve nearly as
much as this concert, though. I, personally, have never done anything
on this scale, and it's been a long time since the school has had
anything this big.
"With a concert of this size, there are also a lot of contracts that
have to go out," Williams said. "For example, I have to get a car
service for the Goo Goo Dolls, which is something I've never had to do
with artists before. With Dancing on Dixie or our usual spring
concerts, the artists usually just drive up and start unloading their
cars."
Not only are there concerns with contracts and services, but also
logistics that must be worked out on campus. The Hoop will be arranged
so that approximately 6,000 people can sit in the stands, and 500 people
will be allowed on the floor.
Also, the event will require at least 35 student-volunteers, most of whom will be SGA senators.
In addition to accommodating spectators, there are security concerns that must be addressed with any event of this size.
"We are working with the Cookeville Police Department and our own
University Police," Williams said. "I don't expect any problems, but if
something does happen, it's good to know that they will be ready to
respond."
While most aspects of planning fell into place with relative ease, planning for the concert certainly had its setbacks.
"Getting an artist is probably one of the biggest roller coasters of
planning a concert," Williams said, "because you kind of get your heart
set on a particular name, but they may be on tour or in the studio, so
plans have to change. I have to say, though, that I am so excited that
it's almost here and we will finally get to see our efforts coming to
fruition."
While the SOLO fund has received a lot of publicity with the upcoming
concert, major on-campus events are not the only purpose of the fund.
Of the funds received from students, 75 percent goes to the Super Fund
and is used to put on major events like the upcoming concert. The other
25 percent is for the Minor Fund and can be disbursed to any student
organization that is recognized by Tech. Through the Minor Fund, an
organization can receive up to $1,000 to put on a free event that is
open to all students. This money can go for T-shirts, fliers, food from
Chartwell's, and many other items that help promote the organization
and benefit the student body.
The fund will not cover the purchase of alcohol or events at which
students are charged admission fees. If an organization does try to
charge admission for a SOLO-funded event, it will have to repay the SOLO
committee for any funds granted.
"The purpose of this fund is to boost student retention by giving the
students things to do and hopefully keep them interested," Lee Gatts,
SGA treasurer and SOLO Fund Allocations Committee chairperson. "We feel
that if there are a lot of events happening on campus, it will make the
college experience better for students."
In order to receive funding, the organization has to file an application
with the SOLO committee. After the application is filed, it must be
approved by the SOLO committee before the request goes to Student
Affairs.
Student Affairs will then submit requests and directly purchase anything
that was approved in the application. One benefit of this system is
that items can be purchased tax-free through the University, stretching
event funds a little farther.
More information and the application for SOLO funds can be found at www.tntech.edu/sga/forms.