The Leader

Campus Activities Board (CAB) is a student organization that programs events on and around the UWM campus. The organization was started in the spring of 2003 and began programming the following semester. Though only three years old, CAB has hosted numerous popular events around campus. CAB Director Stephanie Mather recalls her first event.

"My first experience in CAB was also my favorite event, Rock the Block during CAB Week 2004," Mather said. "It was a political event which included the Student Association candidates and candidates from the Milwaukee mayoral election. [Marvin] Pratt and [Tom] Barrett were going to be present. We had a huge turn out and all the Milwaukee news channels came and did live broadcasts. We were also on the 10 o'clock news and on the front page of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel the next day. It was a great way to start my programming career."

CAB has also put on the Powder Puff Football game and outdoor movie during Homecoming week for three years running and is looking to forward to making Homecoming a campus tradition.

Another annual event that CAB puts on is the Battle of the Bands. Sam Vanderhoof, who chaired the event this year, was extremely satisfied with the outcome.

"It was an amazing show," Vanderhoof said. "I was really pleased with the quality of all the bands and you could tell that the crowd really enjoyed it as well. What was even cooler were the prizes from various local businesses that we were able to give the bands who got first and second place."

Another concert event was the Motion City Soundtrack show, one of the biggest events ever put on by CAB.

"Probably the coolest thing I've ever seen on campus," Vanderhoof said. "It was a lot of hard work to get everything coordinated and organized. I was just happy to be given the opportunity in planning it and bringing that great event to UWM.

"Without student organizations like CAB, students would never get the chance to plan large events," she added. "That would be left up to the administration and departments. We have a great opportunity here at UWM to plan the events that students would like to see."

CAB also programs smaller events, such as Game Night, throughout the course of the year. Holly Rysewyk, CAB secretary, chaired Game Night this semester.

"This was the first event I ever chaired in CAB," said Holly. "I've been on committees before but this was a whole new experience. It was really satisfying to see all the hard work and effort come together and run so smoothly. All the students who attended really enjoyed it. Hopefully this will become something that students can look forward to once or twice a semester."

With this year winding down and finals looming there are still some bright spots out there. CAB Carnival will take place on April 13 in Spaights Plaza from 2-5 p.m. The final event on CAB's calendar for this year is "An Evening with Zach Galifinakis" on Tuesday, May 9, 8 p.m.-11:30 p.m. in the Union Ballroom. Zach is a comedian who has been on Comedy Central and the movie Out Cold. All of these events are free to students.

Next year, CAB is looking forward to hosting an acoustic series on the Sandburg lawn and a comedy series in October, so students should have plenty of events to keep them entertained. Be sure to remain on the lookout for the events finishing out this year and beginning next year because it looks like CAB is gearing up for one heck of a ride.

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