You have some great suggestions from others.

Just wanted to chime in that there are some real risks of data theft using public USB chargers. It’s called “Juice Jacking” and people replace or tamper with the usb cables with cables to install malware or steal your personal data.

Contactless charging stations are a much safer option, and has the…

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Hi Scott,

The introduction of a main stage curtain has the possibility of significantly altering the acoustics of your performance space. I would discourage purchasing a new sound system without having an acoustician evaluate the space, or at least hiring a company to do an actual system design. Many PA speakers have digitally steerable…

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You’ve gotten some good answers already.? And I think from a smoke detection perspective, it’s probably best to ban them all, unless you have a fire marshal approved way to bypass the system.? But you can sometimes get away with using it in a controlled manner, without setting off alarms.

From a health perspective, it is generally suggested to…

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Hey Corbin,
Please see answers below from University of Chicago.

1. What is your post COVID work onsite/hybrid/remote policy?
   • Our division (Campus and Student Life) allows individual units to create their own policies, as long as operational need its being met.? Prior to 2024 UChicago Student Centers was only allowing remote work during summer…

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Cortney,

I am a former theatrical Lighting Designer, now turned Student Center Director.? I have overseen Student Union managed performance spaces at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU), Northwestern University (NU), and now at University of Chicago.

The best advice I can give you is to hire a theatrical consultant.? Lighting sales…

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Cortney,

I am a former theatrical lighting designer turned director.? I’ve overseen theatrical venues connected to student unions at Northeastern Illinois University, Northwestern University, and now University of Chicago.?

The best advice I can give you is to hire a theatrical consultant.? The lighting companies just want to sell you the…

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We have a few policies that would apply here.

I attached the sign that we have on each bulletin board in the Student Centers buildings.? This also links to the campus posting policy, located in our student manual.? Our campus posting policies are currently under review, and will likely be updated this summer.? Also see our …

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I had previously investigated (in a former role) a push button solution that would work with our two-way radios.? Similar to when you are in target and push one of the help buttons, a message goes out over the radio “assistance has been requested in aisle 12.”? In our application, it would have been something like “Client has requested…

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Hey All,

Looking for recommendations on soft seating vendors.? Does anyone have soft seating they really love and has held up well?? Thanks!

——————————
Christopher Burpee
Director of Student Centers
University of Chicago
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Hi Cory,

We have a pub at University of Chicago.? Our dining is a Chartwells operations, but our pub is excluded from that contract, is contracted out to a local restaurant group.? I believe our fee is 6.5% of net sales, paid monthly.? As part of the contract, the vendor also contributed to the renovation of the space.

Happy to chat more if…

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Hey Event and Operations Colleagues,

We’re still an EMS campus at UChicago (for the moment) and are considering adding 7PointOps.? EMS quoted us an additional $3000/year to add on the API integration license.? This seems incredibly overpriced, and I don’t remember it being this high when we added 7PointOps at Northwestern.? 7Point Solutions…

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Hey Event and Operations Colleagues,

We’re still an EMS campus at UChicago (for the moment) and are considering adding 7PointOps.? EMS quoted us an additional $3000/year to add on the API integration license.? This seems incredibly overpriced, and I don’t remember it being this high when we added 7PointOps at Northwestern.? 7Point Solutions…

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Hi Jen,
Is the role you are looking to create a manager position or a technician position?? How did you support AV previously?? I just want to make sure I’m sending you what you need.? Thanks!

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Christopher Burpee
Assistant Director of Technical Services and Performance Venues Read more

Soundtrack for business is the commercial version of Spotify. You can even import playlists from Spotify. This is what we use for music at events. It requires being paired to a single device per license ?

Pandora for business is a similar service. Theirs requires you to purchase a specific hardware device to stream from.?

we also use Rockbot…

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Hello fellow technology professionals -?

I have 2 professional vacancies I am trying to fill for Technical Specialists.? I have struggled in the past to recruit candidates from within student affairs and higher education.? We just aren’t able to pay as well as the IT departments on campus, and anyone in professional groups such as this…

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Hello Urban Union Colleagues,
You have no doubt heard about the ACUI annual conference coming up in March.? Chicago is a great town for urban unions, as those of you in the area know.

I have been fortunate to be part of an incredible team working to make this (IN PERSON!) conference a reality.? If you haven’t seen, this year’s conference…

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Hello Student Employee Supervisors,

I have been fortunate to be part of an incredible team working to make the 2022 Annual Conference a reality.? If you haven’t seen, this year’s conference includes over 100 sessions, a keynote from Black Lives Matter co-founder and abolitionist Patrisse Cullors, networking with peers and corporate partners,… Read more

Hello fellow event professionals – I have been fortunate to be part of an incredible team working to make this (IN PERSON!) conference a reality.? If you haven’t seen, this year’s conference includes over 100 sessions, a keynote from Black Lives Matter co-founder and abolitionist Patrisse Cullors, networking with peers and corporate… Read more

Hello Friends and Colleagues, If you follow this COP regularly, you have certainly seen my posts about the upcoming conference in Chicago.? I have been fortunate to be part of an incredible team working to make this (IN PERSON!) conference a reality. ? If you haven’t seen, this year’s conference includes over 100 sessions, a keynote… Read more