By: Rylie Newman
Student Involvement – Student Writer
University Program Council (UPC) hosted their annual War Damn Coffee Jam on November 19th, and it was a blast! Students braved the rain to gather on Samford Lawn for coffee, hot chocolate, donuts, and popcorn, which they enjoyed while listening to an incredible concert.
This year’s title artist was Devin Kennedy. The 27-year-old singer, songwriter, and producer traveled all way from Los Angeles, California for the event, marking his first ever time in Alabama. Kennedy’s career launched in 2018, and he released his debut album “California Rain” in 2023. His top songs include “Forget About You,” “Sundress” and “Things I Wish I Never Said.”
Set against the stunning backdrop of lit-up Samford Hall, Kennedy’s stage glowed in the misty rain. His alternative, R&B style was the perfect soundtrack for students to either sing along or chat quietly in the background. His performance included songs from his newest album, “In My Imagination.”
The heartbeat behind large events like War Damn Coffee Jam is to create room for community to grow on Auburn’s campus. UPC President Cole Wheeler, a senior in Professional Flight, said, “At UPC we try to help create community by having events where people can interact with each other, talk to each other. We hope they leave with more friends than they came with.”
UPC’s Director of Live Events agrees. She claims, “A lot of people from every area of campus come together to spend the night enjoying the music and meeting new people.”
They seem to have succeeded. All across Samford Lawn, students gathered to laugh, talk, and enjoy the night. Four students, Mallory (first-year Pharmacy student), Anne (Junior in Speech Pathology), Emily (Junior in Pre-Nursing), and Annie (Senior in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences) shared how UPC helped them grow closer their Freshman year, and how they had been attending UPC events ever since! According to Mallory, “UPC has the best hot chocolate ever,” marking yet another reason they keep coming back to War Damn Coffee Jam.
The cherry on top for the night was the appearance of Auburn’s beloved mascot, Aubie. The tiger arrived just as Kennedy took the stage, and as always, he was the life of the party. Aubie dashed around taking pictures, stealing donuts, and encouraging students to dance.
By the end of the night, everyone agreed that this year’s War Damn Coffee Jam was a hit! Students left with new friends, an incredible memory,and popcorn for the road. If you missed War Damn Coffee Jam and are interested in attending upcoming Auburn events, check out the Holiday Lighting Ceremony happening on December 1st!