Students are reacting to the news there will not be a homecoming concert in Spaulding Gym this year. University officials have squashed the on campus event and replaced it with an off campus club activity.
Student Affairs officials said Rap Artist Mike Jones is expected to perform Vantage 21, a downtown Raleigh nightclub.
“We are only charging the students with I.D. $10 dollars,” said Ebony Johnson, Shaw Director of Student Activities. According to Johnson, “We don’t have enough students to book an $80,000 artist.”
“I don’t understand why we are not having a concert. I pay money to enjoy my school, and frankly I am jealous of my friends at NC A&T. It seems like Shaw never gets anything,” said senior Donchelle Florence.
“We are trying something different this year,” said Eve Blakney, SGA’s appointed homecoming liaison. Blakney said that some students are upset about the new plan, but fail to show up when the university does book an act. “Everything that is going on has been in works for months now,” stated Blakney.
Last year’s homecoming, Shaw students gathered in Spaulding to enjoy the crooning of Trey Songs and rap artist Plies.
“Technically we are having a concert,” said Johnson. “We want it to be more exciting. During a concert people usually just stand around and wait on the artist to entertain. We want the student body to have fun, dance, enjoy themselves, plus having a performance.”
Not all students are upset with the plan. Sophmore Jamisha Hall said, “I understand why we don’t have anything. People never go, and then want to complain.”
Johnson said, “Shaw University students need to stop comparing themselves to North Carolina A&T and North Carolina Central. We do not have the larger student body like those schools. Once the students understand this, I think homecoming will be a better event.” Event organizers say the homecoming party will take place Saturday, October 18th at 9:30 p.m.