MIRROR ME

LAUREN CRIMMINS

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY SENIOR

HONORS

CREATIVE

CAPSTONE

UNIVERSITY UNION,

THE LGBTQ AND DISABILTY

CULTURAL CENTERS

MAY 2020

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ABSTRACT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

UNIVERSITY UNION HISTORY

THE CALL THAT STARTED IT ALL

VETTING / OFFER

ADVANCING

PROMOTION PLANNING

DATE CHANGE

MARKETING MIX UP

DAY OF SHOW

MY INTRODUCTION

RYAN’S WORDS OF WISDOM

PRESS COVERAGE

ACTING FORWARD

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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ABSTRACT

This past fall, I oversaw the first collaboration between University Union, Syracuse University’s official programming board, and the LGBT Resource and Disability Cultural centers. The collaboration resulted in a moderated Q&A between Ryan O’Connell, an Emmy-nominated comedian, writer, and producer who identifies as gay and disabled, and is an activist for representation in entertainment, and moderator Eddie Zaremba, a Syracuse Law student studying disability law. The event came to life through the hard work of fellow University Union members; who all contributed to the booking process, promotional planning, and day of show execution. As a Remembrance Scholar representing Miriam Luby Wolfe, a victim of the Pan Am 103 bombing whose passion was social impact in entertainment, I dedicated this event to her memory.

As the current vice president of University Union, Syracuse University’s official programming board, I was able to oversee and execute an on campus event for my final honors thesis. I began in university union as a general member my freshman year and worked my way up the public relations executive board to eventually become the current vice president. During my first semester on an executive board, University Union came under severe scrutiny from the student body for not booking artists diverse in genre, race, gender, or sexual orientation. I decided then to work to make the organization itself and the events more inclusive and representative of the student body.

Besides working towards my goals for the organization, this event also allowed me to combine my passions for advocacy and entertainment. As an underclassman, besides University Union, I was involved in activist groups on campus, such as S.A.S.S.E. (Students Advocating for Sexual Safety and Empowerment) and the health and wellness committee through the Student Association. When I received a call from the director of the disability cultural center last summer regarding a partnership, the University Union president and I quickly grasped at the opportunity to center a campus event around social good.

Ryan O’Connell was already top of mind for the directors of the disability cultural and LGBTQ resource centers. I therefore worked with fellow University Union members to begin the vetting process; this includes a background check on the artist and deep dive into their press and social media to rule out any history of violence or bigotry. Once the artist is successfully vetted, an offer, or the first contractual agreement between the artists’ agent and Syracuse University, was drafted and sent to the artist’s talent agency.

After the offer was accepted, I worked with University Union’s performing arts director to begin advancing. This involves sending a list of questions to the artist’s advancing contact to ensure the show runs smoothly. We ask for date confirmation, sound check time, travel information, any accomodations needed by the artist and their team, along with other miscellaneous questions. While advancing, I worked with University Union’s promotional team to create an extensive marketing, public relations, and digital promotions plan.

These plans quickly changed on October 8, 80 minutes before the announcement of the show, when I received an email from Ryan’s agent; subject line “URGENT!” Ryan could no longer travel to Syracuse to perform on October 22. After working diligently with Ryan’s agent, the space allocation director for Syracuse University, and University Union advisors, the show was switched to October 21. The event was only shifted one day, but the announcement of the show was pushed to October 13, leaving only eight days to promote the show.

After extensive marketing and promotional changes, the event was a success; with over 400 students, faculty, staff, and members of the Syracuse Community in attendance. Ryan O’Connell kept the audience laughing, and the event garnered positive press from publications like the Daily Orange.

I was honored to introduce the event and formally dedicate it to Miriam Luby Wolfe. This event served as the first way I looked back, and acted forward in her memory.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I graduated from LaGuardia High School for performing arts thinking I needed a break from music and entertainment. I began at Syracuse University as a health and exercise science major and on day one of classes, I knew I missed creativity. I missed entertainment.

I missed entertainment; but I didn’t miss performing. It took many one-on-one meetings with Hanna, my honors advisor, to find a particular upper level Music Industry promotion class. I pleaded with the professor, face to face, to let me take the class as a second semester freshman. This class has led me on the path I am today; merging my passions for entertainment and social justice.

Throughout my time at Syracuse University, much of my extra curricular experience either had to do with social justice or entertainment. I began my experience in University Union as a general member freshman year and am now the vice president of University Union for my senior year.

Besides University Union, I was the co-chair of the health and wellness committee through the Student Association, the vice president of S.A.S.S.E. (Students Advocating for Sexual Safety and Empowerment); and most importantly I am honored to be a 2019-2020 Remembrance Scholar.

Remembrance Scholars are 35 Syracuse University seniors that are chosen each year to represent one of the 35 Syracuse students murdered in the 1988 Pan Am 103 bombing. I am honored to represent Miriam Luby Wolfe, who I initially felt drawn to my junior year when I learned of her passion for social impact within entertainment, and her dream of starting a theater group her senior year to raise awareness for AIDS research and rape prevention.

As a Remembrance Scholar, and the vice president of University Union, I found myself in a privileged position my senior year to make a difference. For my honors capstone, I oversaw a partnership between University Union, the LGBTQ resource center, and disability cultural center to bring Ryan O’Connell to campus for a moderated Q&A.

Ryan O’Connell is an Emmy-nominated comedian, writer, and producer who identifies as gay and disabled, and is an activist for representation in entertainment. O’Connell is known for starring and executive producing the short form Netflix series, “Special,” which is based on his life as a gay man with cerebral palsy navigating his 20’s.

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INTRODUCTION

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UNIVERSITY UNION HISTORY

My first semester on the executive board for University Union was the fall semester of my sophomore year at college. I was the alumni relations director and had nothing to do with the booking and promotion of our events. I found out the lineup for the annual fall music festival, Juice Jam, about five days before the rest of the student body.

I immediately realized the lineup was not diverse; not diverse based on genre, race, gender, or sexual orientation. I made a face; but I didn’t speak up. I felt like there was nothing to say since the lineup could not be changed days before the announcement.

The booking directors may not have noticed this lack of diversity, but the student body did. An “alternative Juice Jam” was made in retaliation with local multicultural artists. The crowd was about 3,000 students smaller than usual, and the crowd was nowhere near as diverse as the Syracuse University body is. I was extremely uncomfortable.

I pulled, Keely Higgins, the public relations director at the time, aside and explained my disappointment and discomfort. I felt myself questioning whether or not University Union was the organization for me.

I ultimately decided University Union is a privileged organization that has the majority of every student’s programming fee on campus. I decided I would work to become a member of the board of directors and change the way the “official programming board” books talent and collaborates with other organizations and resource centers to ensure every student feels not only heard but represented on the stage. To ensure that every student is mirrored.

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THE CALL THAT STARTED IT ALLIn June of 2019, I received an email from the director of the disability cultural center, Elizabeth, asking to hop on the phone for a quick chat. Later that afternoon I met Elizabeth, and she explained that her resource center and the LGBTQ resource center had their eye and hearts of bringing Ryan O’Connell to campus but could not afford to bring him with their budgets alone.

Elizabeth asked University Union to help financially and officially book and oversee an event with Ryan O’Connell. After a quick conversation with the University Union president and faculty adviser, it was a clear and enthusiastic yes.

This call began a collaboration and partnership that will, hopefully, last far beyond this academic year between the official programming board and the resource centers on Syracuse University’s campus.

OFFER

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VETTINGThere is a specific process that every artist goes through before being sent an offer from Syracuse University by University Union. This is called the vetting process.

It begins with the booking director for that particular show. This time, that director was me. I researched the history of the artist to make sure there is no history of violence or bigotry in either their art or personal life. I then compiled information in a long document and sent it to the University Union adviser for review. The adviser digs deeper into the artists’ history, and upon approval, sends the artist name over to the Department of Public Safety. The director of the Department of Public Safety runs a background check on the artist to ensure they do not have a violent or problematic criminal record.

Luckily Ryan O’Connell had no troubling history. In fact, he is an activist and a self-proclaimed open book himself.

Since Elizabeth contacted University Union so early in the summer, booking Ryan O’Connell would be the first booking I oversaw as the, then, newly voted vice president. I looked at previous offers sent by the university to write up my own for O’Connell.

I ensured there was a day of show contact, production contact, University signature, artist fee and terms for the fee and performance itself. I went back and forth with the University Union adviser to ensure this offer, which acts as the first contractual agreement between the artists’ agency and the University, was absolutely perfect; teaching me the importance of every word written, and left out, in contracting an artist.

Soon after sending the offer, Ryan O’Connell was confirmed to perform at Syracuse University on October 22, 2019.

Once Ryan O’Connell was confirmed, I began working with University Union’s performing arts director to compil advancing questions. These questions are for the artist agent and manager mainly to ensure the day of show schedule will run smoothly.

These questions include:• Confirmation of date, sound check time, set time, and day of show schedule• Specific details on the artist transportation and travel accommodations. For example: • Form of transportation and flight number, if applicable • Time of arrival • Hotel / place of stay • Number of people in party / escort• Contact information for artists’ day of show contact who will act as the artists liaison• Asking for a technology rider with any technology Ryan O’Connell requires as well as a hospitality rider with any and all food and drink (besides alcohol) that the school can provide for Ryan and his team backstage• Miscellaneous questions regarding complimentary tickets, a meet and greet, merchandise sales, and questions that were specifically crafted for Ryan O’Connell considering his disability. For example: • Would Ryan O’Connell require an accessible dressing room? • What chair does he prefer to use backstage and on stage? • What mic does he prefer to use? • What kind of water bottle(s) does Ryan prefer?

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ADVANCING

The Q&A was moderated by Syracuse University Law student, Eddie Zaremba, who founded the disabled student union during his time as an undergraduate student at Syracuse University’s Whitman Business School of Manage-ment.

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Starting in September, I oversaw the University Union promotion team to begin planning the promotion of the event that would be announced mid-October. University Union’s promotional team includes the design, public relations, social media, marketing and collaborations directors and their prospective executive boards.

These boards created an extensive marketing, public relations and digital promotions plan.

This plan included but was not limited to:• Strategic tabling in certain cafes on campus during busy hours with handbills and poster handouts with easy-toscan QR codes to take the student, staff, or faculty member directly to the e-ticket download page

• Individualized invitations to the presidents of clubs surrounding LGBTQIA+ activism, disability rights and celebration, comedy, and television, radio and film production since Ryan O’Connell helps carry out these organization’s mission in his professional life

• Personalized invitations to on-campus and local/regional organizations that act as resources for members of the LGBTQIA+ and disabled communities

• Specific designs that celebrate Ryan O’Connell’s identities including his iconic glasses and the official color of cerebral palsy awareness and celebration

PROMOTION PLANING

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DATE CHANGE

It was Tuesday, October 8, 2019; 80 minutes before the official announcement of Ryan O’Connell’s Q&A when I received a stomach churning email from Ryan O’Connell’s agent; subject line: URGENT.

The agent went on to tell us that Ryan double booked his evening on October 22 and could no longer make it to Syracuse University that day. After reading the email, I took 2 minutes of deep breaths before writing down the parties that would need to know this immediately.

I called the president of University Union and we tag teamed letting our advisers, our public relations and social media directors, the communications team for Syracuse University among others know that the announcement was off.

I then worked with the director of space allocation at Syracuse University to offer alternative dates with venues available to Ryan O’Connell’s agent.

It wasn’t until the morning of Sunday, October 13th that Ryan O’Connell’s agent called me to say Monday, October 21st would work for Ryan. I worked with University Union president to, yet again, tag team this quick turn around to necessary parties.

I worked with our design team to change the date on all assets, our advisers to change the contract, and the university’s communication’s team to help push out announce the following day. This allowed 7 days for promotion instead of the usual 14 days.

Between the time Ryan O’Connell’s agent broke the news of O’Connell’s schedule conflict, and called with excitement regarding a rescheduled date, University Union’s marketing director stepped down from their position. Per the organization’s constitution, University Union President and vice president fill the position for the remainder of the semester.

The marketing and promotions plan was set in stone weeks prior to announce; however the entire timeline and intensity of the plan was changed around by the president and myself to garner enough exposure and interest in a seven day timespan instead of a 14 day one.

This included individualized emails to 150 presidents of numerous organizations on campus personally inviting their organization; as well as individual invitations to on campus and local organizations focused on comedy, disability awareness, LGBTQ celebration and television, film, and radio production. These emails offered the organization a University Union giveaway item in exchange for them sharing the information with their organization’s members on the organization’s digital platforms.

This helped us strategically reach numerous communities on campus that would not have seen the event information otherwise in the short time before the performance.

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MARKETING CHANGE UP

On the day of any show, the vice president is there from the opening of the venue to the curfew of all people working the event. I arrived at Goldstein Auditorium around 4 p.m. with binders for all directors running the show with necessary information including the day of show schedule, Ryan O’Connell’s contract and hospitality rider, University Union members working the event, and the organizations tabling before and after the event.

I oversaw the placement and role of all University Union members, while check-ing in organization leaders to table and spread awareness of their organization’s resources to the LGBTQIA+ and disabled communities. I also set aside a table for Remembrance Scholars to promote Remembrance Week and teach attendees about Miriam Luby Wolfe. I helped set up the dressing rooms and ensured the room, route to the stage, and stage itself was accessible for Ryan O’Connell.

After a security briefing, it was time for the president of University Union to meet Ryan O’Connell outside of the auditorium and bring him backstage before doors opened. Ryan called the president and said he was outside, he was not.

After location sharing, GPS tracking, and the University Union president personally running through Syracuse University’s campus in the rain, Ryan was found near a completely different venue on campus. His uber dropped him off at the wrong location.

Due to this hiccup, doors opened without Ryan in his dressing room and the show began about two minutes after Ryan entered the auditorium himself after drying off with a towel quickly.

Before Ryan and the moderator stepped onto the stage, I personally introduced the show and dedicated the show to Miriam.

DAY OF SHOW

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“Hello everyone and thank you for coming to see Ryan O’Connell this evening! I’m Lauren Crimmins, University Union’s Vice President.

Before we start, I would like to acknowledge with respect the Onondaga Nation, firekeepers of the Haudenosaunee, the indigenous people on whose ancestral lands Syracuse University now stands.

This event is the first of its kind as it is a collaboration between University Union, the LGBT Resource Center and the Disability Cultural Center. We hope this is the first of many.

This event is also in honor of Remembrance Week and specifically dedicated to Miriam Wolfe.

Remembrance Week annually honors the victims of the Pan Am Flight 103 terrorist attack that took 270 lives on December 21st, 1988.

35 Syracuse University abroad students, who were on their way home from a semester studying in London lost their lives in this terrorist attack, and 35 seniors each year are Remembrance Scholars, who have been honored with the responsibility of representing one of those students.

I am honored to represent Miriam Wolfe, a musical theater major, who intended on starting an alternative theater group for social and political justice during her senior year. This event looks back and acts forward in honor of her.

Before we welcome Ryan and our Moderator, Eddie Zaremba, to the stage, please give a warm welcome to Kate Pollack from the Disability Cultural Center.

Thank you.”

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MY INTRODUCTION

The Q&A was moderated by Syracuse University Law student, Eddie Zaremba, who founded the disabled student union during his time as an undergraduate student at Syracuse University’s Whitman Business School of Management.

Zaremba’s questions focused mainly on O’Connell’s recent eight-episode Netflix show, “Special” based on O’Connell’s book “I’m Special: And Other Lies We Tell Ourselves.”

The show follows O’Connell, playing himself, through his attempt to define himself at his new internship. This new definition left out his identity as a disabled person as O’Connell posed as a car accident victim when questioned about his difficulty walking and motor control.

The show ultimately advocates for genuineness and celebration of gay and disabled identities, and is known for it’s explicit scene with gay intercourse. O’Connell explained the importance of normalizing sex for members of the disabled and LGBTQIA+ communities and how this can be done through entertainmentand proper representation.

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RYAN’S WORDS OF WISDOM

The Daily Orange covered this event with a photographer who has a special connection to Miriam Luby Wolfe, and ultimately, to myself.

Corey Henry, a sophomore at Syracuse University who is the photo editor for the Daily Orange, was supposed to be the god daughter of Miriam Luby Wolfe. Corey’s mother was a close classmate of Miriam throughout her time at Syracuse. Corey Henry photographed the event and Daily Orange staff writer, Carlo Di Giammarino, wrote the accompanying article.

“O’Connell urged the audience to believe in themselves, even if only a little.”

“‘A little bit of delusion goes a long way,’ O’Connell said.”

“Another audience member, public relations major Rebecca Balara, said she enjoyed how vulnerable O’Connell was in front of such a large audience.”

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PRESS COVERAGE

The Remembrance Scholar saying is to “look back, and act forward.” The goal is to honor and remember all individual lives lost in the Pan Am 103 bombing while acting forward in their honor. This show is the first concrete example I have of acting forward in Miriam Luby Wolfe’s memory.

I will carry out her plan to utilize the power of entertainment to make a social impact.

I will look back, and act forward in her honor.

PHOTOS BY KATIE REHAL

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COVER DESIG

N BY LIVIA JONES& ABANT BERKE |

MAY 2020

ACTING FORWARD