TU to co-host USM United Concert

By Kyle Hobstetter on September 10, 2020

Last spring, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of many student events, including the annual TigerFest concert.

Immediately, TU’s Office of Student Activities staff brainstormed ideas to replace the lost events, looking for something exciting to kick off the fall term, even if it was virtual.

Over the summer, Student Activities staff also started working with other schools in the University System of Maryland (USM), who were facing the same issue.

After months of hard work, Towson University and its partner schools will host a virtual benefit concert on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 2 p.m. It will stream on YouTube and raise money for students who have been affected financially by the pandemic. 

“We want to provide students some entertainment, but we’re also seeing so many struggling financially that we wanted to find a way to help them as well,” says Tom Judd, TU’s coordinator of campus programming. “I think it's really twofold: Let's give them something that they lost, but let's also help them as much as we can financially.” 

The concert, a mix of live and prerecorded performances, will be hosted by stand-up comedian and Daily Show correspondent Jaboukie Young-White. It will also feature performances by 3OH!3, Koffee, Jesse McCartney and a Q&A with Emmy-nominated stand-up comedian W. Kamau Bell.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, USM Chancellor Dr. Jay Perman, university presidents from across the USM and alumni, students and staff from the various system institutions will make appearances too.

Judd says TU alumnus performer Jimmy Charles was excited to help and even donated his time. 

“During his [prerecorded] performance he must have told the audience to donate almost a thousand times,” Judd laughs. “He was totally invested, and it shows that our alumni do care. To get that buy-in from alumni, it’s just great.

“And it’s not just alumni. Faculty and staff from across campus have offered to help us. It's not just about Student Activities and the other schools giving back. The entire TU community wants to help and be involved in the best way that they can.”

Giving back was the key for Student Activities when the staff started meeting with the USM Student Life Consortium in March. This group of student life professionals holds weekly meetings on Monday afternoons to discuss virtual programming and mental health support.

Conversations with a core group of staff generated the idea of hosting a virtual benefit concert, with the proceeds going to USM student emergency funds.

“This has really helped us get closer to other institutions in the state,” says Elizabeth Purswani, Student Activities’ assistant director of programming. “We want this to be big, so students can expect a variety of performances. There is something for everyone.”

After spending so much time planning the concert, Judd and Purswani are excited and relieved it is right around the corner.   

They also are a little nervous and not just because of the live element to the event. They are also hoping they can raise funds for TU students as well as their spirits.

“We're here to help the students in every possible way,” Judd says. “Some of them need the financial help. Some of them need the community help. Some of them need the involvement and networking help. This concert is all of that. 

“That’s why we’re calling it the USM United Concert because this is bringing unity to our students.” 

For more information, visit the USM United homepage, and check out the Facebook page. For access to concert merchandise, visit the USM United swag shop.

This story is one of several related to President Kim Schatzel’s priorities for Towson University: TU Matters to Maryland.