Girl Talk can talk the talk. But can University students walk the walk? Trade in their khakis and Polos for leopard leggings and glow sticks to rock out with one of the most recognized disc jockeys of the new millennium, Gregg Gillis?\nTonight, they get their chance. Gillis will perform at this year's Welcome Back Block Party, hosted by University Programs Council at 8 p.m. at John Paul Jones Arena.\nPreviously, the block party took place at the Aquatic and Fitness Center and consisted simply of games, food and giveaways.\n"We thought we ought to reevaluate what we want incoming students to be exposed to when they first come," University Programs Council Chair Bukky Awosogba said.\nAlthough the block party is many students' first glimpse into social life at the University, in the past most students have left the event within the first hour.\nUPC Director of Special Events Libby Stevens created a survey to see what students wanted to do. More than 60 percent of students wanted to see Girl Talk perform.\nAwosogba sees the Girl Talk concert as a better way for first-year students, in particular, to bond, especially because of the dance focus of Girl Talk concerts.\n"They'll have something that they're actually doing other than standing in an awkward circle with people they have nothing in common with except being in the same hall," Awosgba said.\nFirst-year College student Abbi Sigler said she thinks the Girl Talk concert is "a great way to start the Class of 2013's four years at Virginia."\nAlthough UPC has put on concerts with famous names before, such as OK Go at Springfest last year, the Girl Talk concert will be "the first time in a while [UPC] has gotten so much interest," Stevens said. "Now that this event is happening, we're going to pay attention to what students really and truly want."\nStudents and graduates generally tend to see UPC as a very mainstream organization that does not push boundaries, and are surprised that it finally "got [its] act together," Awosogba said.\nOn move-in night, UPC's goal is to offer a safe, dry environment that is an alternative to parties where alcohol is served, such as the well-known and popular Wertland Block party.\nAwosogba has no doubt that the Wertland party will still occur but believes that fewer first-year students will attend this year.\nAfter Girl Talk, "first years will want to stay in the dorm for a little bit" to bond with their new friends, she said.\nCo-chair of Residence Life Adam Reitelbach, agreed.\n"This event presents a great opportunity for the incoming students to start getting to know each other while having a good time in a safe environment," he said.\nAny student found with alcohol will be removed, Awosogba said, even if they are of age. JPJ will not prevent intoxicated students from entering the arena, but if these students become belligerent, security will get involved.\nInitially, upperclass students needed to pay a small fee to enter, but the concert recently was made free of charge for all students, including graduate students. Non-university students will not be admitted.\nStevens said UPC gets $14 from every student's activities fee, so they had no worries about whether they could afford Girl Talk. Awosogba said UPC considered charging for admission to make up for the dent in the organization's budget, but after evaluating the number of people who would not come because of the price, UPC decided to make the concert free for everyone.\nGirl Talk concerts are famous for their dances on the floor, but even with the floor spread as much as possible at JPJ, all of the roughly 6,000 students expected to attend will not be able to dance with Girl Talk. Those who do not receive floor tickets will be able to sit in the stands.\n"Nothing can increase the chances to be on the floor," Awosogba said.\nShe also mentioned, however, that there will be other activities that hopefully are more favorable to those in the stands, but would not disclose further details.
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