In a recently-remodeled, colorful office on the Kansas State Student Union’s ground floor lays a shark signed by Will Ferrell, a guitar signed by Dustin Lynch and a violin signed by Lindsey Stirling.
These, and posters signed by Bill Nye, Tracy Morgan and Bo Burnham, among others, are but a few of the souvenirs and relics of performances by artists the Union Program Council works to bring to campus every year.
Although UPC hosts and organizes over 160 events each year, it relies on a contingent of 26 students and five advisers spread across 10 committees to put on the events.
Abby Krstulic, senior in hospitality management, is a campus entertainment committee co-chair and helped plan actor and comedian Nick Offerman’s visit. She is currently working on the upcoming Jon Bellion concert.
“Everyone that I have worked with has been super laid back,” Krstulic said. “Nick Offerman is probably the nicest person I have ever met.”
Krstulic said her favorite part about being on UPC is seeing the events come together, which start with the ticket sales. Student tickets go on sale first, giving students an advantage in making sure they can attend the event.
“Our attendance is about 70 to 75 percent K-State students and about 15 to 20 percent community members,” Krstulic said.
The campus entertainment committee plans two or three events a year and works to bring in artists and celebrities that student select by survey. This is how Dustin Lynch, Nick Offerman, Jon Bellion and other performers have been chosen in the past, Krustlic said.
Funded by student privilege fee allocations, UPC received $211,243 this school year to be split among its planning committees. That means students taking 12 or more credit hours pay $5.66, or 1.31 percent of their $430.75 total student privilege fees, to fund UPC. Most of UPC’s events are free to students, although students attending larger events might pay small costs.
Meghan Haun, senior in mass communications, is a member of UPC’s daytime programs committee, which is new this year and works to plan campus events during the day. Haun said since the committee is new, it allows her the chance to be creative.
The daytime programs committee coordinates two specific events each year, which included UPC’s presence at Family Day and Open House this year. Other events Haun said the committee organizes include the lunchtime lounges, during which UPC brings in musicians and other acts to perform for students during lunch in the Union.
Conner Seitz, senior in milling science and music committee co-chair, said he has helped plan UPC’s open mic nights, K-State Voice and the Cattywampus concert.
The committee organizes about 30 events each year, either by planning them directly or teaming up with other organizations.
“It’s pretty upbeat and full of creative people working together to bring stuff to campus that the students can come enjoy and create memories here at Kansas State,” Seitz said.
