Homecoming Week begins Monday and includes two free concerts this year. One concert will feature “So Sick” singer Ne-Yo and R&B group Cherish at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Jason Myer, Union programs assistant director and Homecoming Committee’s concert coordinator, said the committee will give away 700 free wristbands in Room 304 in the Union on Tuesday to students who are interested in watching the concert from the floor of the PMAC. He said the committee will hand out the wristbands on first-come, first-serve basis. Country duo Brooks and Dunn will perform on the Parade Ground at 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 23. Myer said the committee did not coordinate this event, but he refused to comment on who contracted the group to perform. “This has been a very hush-hush operation from day one,” he said. Myer said the committee wanted to contract acts that appealed to students with a variety of musical tastes. “We really wanted to create the most diverse Homecoming lineup,” he said. In 2004, rapper Chingy was scheduled to perform. The University canceled the performance after some students complained about the content of Chingy’s lyrics. For the 2005 Homecoming, comedian Kathy Griffin was contracted to perform, but the student turnout was low. Megan Clary, kinesiology junior, said she will go to the parade and pep rally but doesn’t plan to attend either of the concerts. She said she would rather see local alternative rock bands. “I don’t know [Cherish or Ne-Yo],” she said. “I’m a rock girl.” Cory Parker, business management sophomore, said he doesn’t like country music, so he will not attend the Brooks and Dunn concert. “I probably won’t bother with that,” he said. “It doesn’t appeal to me.” Parker said the concert would be better if the committee contracted several small-scale or local bands. He said it would provide a better variety of performers for students. Myer said choosing who performs at the Homecoming Concert depends on which performers are touring and the cost of catering, security, lighting, instruments and contracts. “That pretty much rules out anyone you normally hear on the radio,” he said. Homecoming Committee Publicity Chair Kelly Deyoung said no students are involved with picking the concert performers. “We would pick someone that everyone would like, but it’s hard because not everyone is touring,” she said. “We tried to pick a group that will appeal to almost everyone.” Clary said students should have a say in who performs at the Homecoming concerts. “They should take a survey in the Quad or Free Speech Alley,” she said.
—–Contact Angelle Barbazon at [email protected]