Student Activities Center officials announced rock musician John Mayer will perform Monday, Sept. 2 to close out 2002 Welcome Week activities.

Mayer is set to bring his guitar skills and jazz music to the Smith Center at 9 p.m., adding to a week of programs from Aug. 29-Sept. 3 already including comedian Lewis Black and a carnival on the Quad.

Tickets for the concert will be available for $19 Tuesday morning.
SAC is planning about four large events for this year’s Welcome Week instead of dozens of smaller events like in the past, Summer Program Coordinator Samantha Siegel said.

“Last year attendance was good . but we wanted to make this year spectacular,” she said.

She said SAC is using “funds more effectively” and did not see a budget increase for this year’s events.

Siegel said SAC chose Mayer after the office received an overwhelming amount of requests for the artist. She said the University was not responding to criticism about a lack of concert variety the past two years.

The University has booked rap acts for many recent headline concerts, including Cypress Hill, The Roots, Redman and Busta Rhymes.

Students will be able to purchase tickets online at gwired.gwu.edu/tickets and at the Marvin Center Ticketmaster office.
Black, a commentator on Comedy Central’s the Daily Show, is set to perform Saturday, Aug. 31. Siegel described Black as “very bold” and “hysterical,” and said students can view his routines on Hippodrome televisions throughout the summer.

Siegel said Black was chosen because he was “highly recommended” by GW officials and students who have seen his shows.

“We’re looking to sell out and we will,” Siegel said.

Tickets for Black are available for $5 online or $7 at Ticketmaster.

-Julie Gordon and Mosheh Oinounou