By Dinah Alobeid
At their second meeting of the semester, the Council for University Programs (CUP) was already brainstorming and finalizing plans for new events, speakers and activities.
In the past, CUP has recruited a diverse base of talent, including actor-musician Ice-T, comedian Mo Rocca and “The Simpsons” producer Mike Reiss. Although the names may not yet be finalized, CUP committee chairs have been thinking up new and innovative ideas for campus events.
“I think it would be great if we could organize trips to like New York City, just day trips, and have organized fun activities, but also people can go off and do things on their own,” said CUP Showcases Chair Andie Rizzolo at the organization’s meeting last Wednesday. “There’s so many other ways we can do things.”
Rizzolo said one idea they had discussed was to organize a Harry Potter party the night before “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” opens in theatres in November. Another idea was to play a movie on campus and then invite the bands with songs from its soundtrack to perform afterward.
Betre Gizaw, the new vice president for collaboration and the first to sit in this recently created position, has already began his quest to connect all the student groups on campus.
“I am getting contacts for all student leaders so we can get to know each other and be aware of who everyone else is and what else is going on around campus,” Gizaw said.
A talent show is in the works, in which any individual student, group of students or student organization may perform.
“I think it would be great to get all types of people from around campus to perform at something that features all Northeastern students,” Gizaw said. “Maybe we could hold it somewhere and [give] it a festival feel.”
CUP is seeking a vice chair, or “pseudo-assistant,” for each of its committees, said CUP President Amanda Zoglio.
On Oct. 15, an event that may prove to be one of the year’s most popular will be held twice to accommodate the large audience expected due to Parents’ Weekend.
Pablo Francisco, a comedian who has been frequently featured on Comedy Central, will perform his act on two separate occasions, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., as part of the university’s Homecoming Week celebration. CUP teamed up with the Latin American Student Organization to co-sponsor the event.
“We are really excited about this. Plus, the 9 p.m. show is just for students,” Zoglio said.
