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On the Job with UNIQUE

The Bulletin spoke with Zenia Diokno, programs advisor for UNIQUE:

What do people think you do?
People think that we just book concerts and that our office has no involvement in the actual production of an event. Others think that we only coordinate the student volunteers and the booking is done by someone else.

What do you really do?
UNIQUE books, coordinates, promotes and produces concerts, movie screenings, comedy shows, lectures, and other performing arts events in the University Union. We work with about 40-50 student volunteers. I meet with them every week, and together decide what type of events to bring to the Union and get them actively involved in the production—whether it be staffing the event or helping promote the show.

Describe your office.
There are two rooms in the office—my room and the volunteer room. My office is filled with posters, CD’s and promotional material from artists, catalogs and random event supplies. In the volunteer room, there are three computers for them to use for band research, a couch and all the walls in the office are covered with posters.

What surprises people?
Many are surprised when they hear that the organization is made up almost entirely of student volunteers who are involved just for the fun of it. Other schools usually have a paid staff for similar programs.

What is your biggest challenge?
One of UNIQUE’s main goals is to produce entertainment events in the Union at a low cost for Sacramento State students, yet the general public seems to dominate the attendance at our events. We’d like to improve the student ratio and see more students enjoy and benefit from the program.

What do you get asked the most?
“Why can’t we bring [insert really huge celebrity here] to Sacramento State to perform?”