UCAB: Not Your Average Campus Activity

UCAB–to everyone not familiar with William and Mary, you might think this was a local taxi service here in Williamsburg. However, UCAB stands for something considerably more fun: the University Center Activities Board. So-named for what was formerly known as, yes, the University Center (which is now named the Sadler Center, although thankfully the group did not change their name to SCAB, seeing as that somehow doesn’t have quite the same ring to it!), UCAB is a student organization that creates, organizes, and runs a vast array of campus-wide activities and events for students here on campus, which range from movies to dances, concerts to lectures, to much more!

Although I am not involved with UCAB, I still completely appreciate and love what they provide to campus. On almost any given day, UCAB will have some kind of event for students to attend, ensuring that students have no absolutely no excuse to be bored. Just last weekend, UCAB provided me with an entire weekend of exciting and free events, starting with the stand-up comedian on Friday night. Although I had originally not planned on attending, my friends convinced me I should go to see Pete Holmes, who they were familiar with because he performed as an opener for B.J. Novak at his show here on campus last spring (and yes, the very same B.J. Novak who is in “The Office!”). I definitely did not regret my decision, because Pete had all of us, along with the full-capacity audience, rolling in the proverbial aisles with his jokes on everything from the recent election to Egyptian art to even jokes about our local Williamsburg ghosties!

Saturday was a continuation of the good times, starting with the Super Tribe Tailgate before our home football game. UCAB gave students a chance to play human foosball, race each other on a giant inflatable maze, and eat delicious food from off-campus vendors, all while holding a raffle for a free I-Pod! Later on that night, I also enjoyed a concert by Jens Lekman, a Swedish pop star whom UCAB brought to campus. Yes, you read that correctly, we did have a Swedish pop star here at W&M, and it wasn’t even a member of ABBA! Known for his quirky music and intimate concerts, my friends and I all ended up really enjoying listening and dancing to his music, even though not all of us knew much of his music beforehand (sorry to disappoint, all you die-hard Swedish pop fans!). Meanwhile, for those who stuck around after the end of the show, Jens not only greeted his fans but also put on another mini-concert–way cool. So, thanks to UCAB, I had yet another great weekend here on campus, proving once again that there is always something to do here at William and Mary!

Kristen Pentazes, Class of 2010