The University Program Council has held many programs this semester, including welcome week, said Tyler Thompson, assistant director of programming. 

“They did Bongo Ball, they supported Lions Lend a Hand, and they gave out T-shirts at The Big Deal,” Thompson said. “They also helped to publicize the magic show.”

After Welcome Week, UPC continued bringing activities to campus, such as homecoming events, Step Show and a showing of “The Conjuring,” Thompson said.

“They sponsored the Toga Run, “Thompson said. “They did a comedy show in September, and they have done several educational events, including campus safety (and) domestic violence awareness.”

 “They also did a movie night where they showed ‘Monsters U,’ and they had free food and T-shirts to the first 100 (people).”

UPC members have been doing a great job of having events the students want, Thompson said.

“Their movie night was packed,” Thompson said. “There were probably 280 (attendants). At the Step Show, they raised about $6,000 for United Way, and attendance was right at 1,100 (people).”

UPC’s events have been decent this semester, said Joshua Lewis, Freshman.

“I thought the Comedy Show was OK, but the movie would have been better if it wasn’t outside,” Lewis said. “It was really cold.”

UPC should make more of an effort to see what students want, Lewis said.

“I don’t really see a lot of polls or students asking you to choose events you like,” Lewis said. “They should be asking what we would like to see on campus.” 

The money used to fund these programs comes from the Student Activity Fee, which is paid with tuition, said Laura Giles, SGA president.

“Typically, it brings in about $140,000,” Giles said. “It varies every (year), depending on how many students we have. (UPC) divides it between the different committees they have.”

Everything that is not spent that year goes into a rollover fund, Giles said.

“‘I’m not sure how much is in that fund,” Giles said. “ It’s been building up for about the last 10 years.”

There is a system to determining what funds are spent on, said Elizabeth Tyson, SGA treasurer.

“We start off the year by creating budgets in each of the branches — Senate and UPC,” Tyson said. “If there’s something that we think is frivolous spending, we discuss it and then remove it. We have our edified budget that is then officially passed, and we try to follow that throughout the year.”

Although many events are in the planning process, some are set in stone for the remainder of the semester, said Walter Hartley, UPC vice president.

“For the rest of this semester we have a live acts (committee), (and) a freshman forum mixer,” Hartley said. “Next Thursday night they have a Freshman Forum live act, and the music showcase will be (downtown) at the Mane Room. We will be showing ‘Elf’ for our Christmas movie.”

Students are encouraged to attend UPC’s open meetings every Monday at 3:30 p.m. in room 200 of the GUC, Hartley said.

“Students should never feel intimidated by coming in here,” Hartley said. “We’re not always in meetings in here, so if they want to come and they can’t make our meeting, they can come in at our given office hours and voice their opinions.”

UPC offers plenty of events for students, said Jessica Morgan, freshman. 

“I see all of the advertisements and posters that they have put up in the halls and on campus, and I feel like they’ve got at least one (activity) a week, or multiple ones each week,” Morgan said. “It’s out there and they’re doing a good job with that.”

UPC should have more events like the Halloween party, Morgan said. 

“I liked how you could just come and have one big party,” Morgan said. “I would like it if they had more themed nights where you could just come and hang out and they have a DJ. They could also have door prizes and make it one big dance party.”

But some students feel they should have more say in the events UPC bring to campus, said Keyandra Eddings, sophomore.

“If (UPC) took a poll and asked students, ‘What do you want to do?’ maybe more people would come to events,” Eddings said. “I would like to see a talent show on campus to see the different talents we have at UNA.”