What a relief

By LUKE HAMMILL
Asst. Sports Editor

Last Saturday, Washington D.C. rapper Wale performed at Alumni Arena in what was deemed a "Disaster Relief Concert." Students were notified about the event, which was hosted by the Student Association and free to UB undergraduates, in an email sent out the previous Monday. The email was signed by three SA officers: President Ernesto Alvarado, Vice President Greg Robbins, and Treasurer Jordan Fried.
When I first found out about the concert, I didn't know what to expect. The email didn't even mention which disaster the SA was raising money for. Haiti? Chile? The New York Knicks? My roommate's love life?
I'm not much of a fan of Wale's music (save for "W.A.L.E.D.A.N.C.E."), but I decided to attend the show anyway since I had nothing to do that night, it was free, and it was for a good cause.
Knowing from prior experience that rappers never take the stage on time, I arrived on North Campus around 8:30 p.m., 30 minutes after Wale was scheduled to appear. When I got into the arena, the crowd was still waiting for the show to start while DJ Omega played music and asked everyone if they had gotten their pregame on. I learned later that Alvarado had taken the stage and addressed the crowd before I had gotten there.
When Wale finally did arrive on stage with his band, he was wearing a jacket with the Red Cross symbol on the back. I mention this because the expensive-looking jacket was the only indication I got during my entire time at Alumni Arena that night that I was indeed at a "Disaster Relief Concert."
On the way into the arena, I wasn't especially looking for any stations where I could donate money, but I definitely didn't notice any. You'd think that at a "Disaster Relief Concert," these stations would be eye-grabbing and in many places.
Even worse, Wale did not make any mention whatsoever of disaster relief. Instead, he rapped hits like "Nike Boots," "Pretty Girls," and "Chillin" to fans that could not hear him because his band's sound engineer couldn't seem to get the levels right. It's probably for the better, though – are these typical rap lyrics that brag about spending money and partying appropriate for a "Disaster Relief Concert"?
During one section of the show, DJ Omega played classic rap hits while Wale interacted with the crowd. One song that was selected, Luniz's "I Got 5 on It," is about contributing five dollars toward a marijuana blunt and getting high. While the song blasted, Wale led the crowd in a chant about "smoking great." Perhaps he could have also suggested throwing $5 down on some disaster relief.
Granted, I arrived late and left early (out of embarrassment after Wale tried to get the crowd amped to Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody"). Maybe after I left, Wale urged the crowd to donate money. Maybe the Alvarado speech that I missed at the beginning inspired some people to give to charity. But that isn't the point. If I never got that email, I would have never known I was at a "Disaster Relief Concert" that night.
I'd like to know how much money the SA spent on the event, including the amount Wale received, and then I'd like to know how much it raised for disaster relief.

E-mail: luke.hammill@ubspectrum.com