The University Activities Organization did not follow homecoming tradition this year by sponsoring a concert, but instead will host comedian Rickey Smiley.

Preparation for the event started last spring when UAO collected over 1,000 student surveys. The organization then began to plan a concert based on the results.

The artists that students wanted were either unavailable or too expensive for the budget, UAO President Brittany Barhite said. The organization did not want to spend money on a concert that students wouldn’t enjoy.

“What would be the point of spending money on something students didn’t want or wouldn’t sell?” Barhite said.

As options grew smaller, UAO decided a comedy show would be ideal for a homecoming event because it would attract a broad audience.

The cost of a comedy show is also lower than music groups which gives UAO the opportunity to save money and plan a concert for the spring.

The decision to have a comedian rather than a concert benefits both students and the UAO, Barhite said.

“It works out the best way student-wise, money-wise and we still have an event for people to go to,” she said.

The organization realizes that many students expect a concert after the homecoming game, but they are proud to present comedian Rickey Smiley and are confident that it will be a great show.

Barhite was glad that this year’s change of events would break the mold.

“I do think that doing this this year opens the doors for being creative for the following years if need be,” she said.

The money UAO saved on the comedy show will be used to plan a larger than usual spring concert, Barhite said.

The organization has already begun looking into artists’ availability. They couldn’t give any insight into what was being planned, but said they are making choices based on what the students want.

“We’re looking through the surveys and wanting to do what students wanted last spring,” Barhite said.