“Many University of Akron students have seen it.  Even more have heard it. The month-old mystique surrounding the elusive Rock the Roo truck has blazed across campus. With more wattage in the trunk than any Caprice on South Arlington Street and rims that would make Pimp my Ride host Xzibit cry, the truck has certainly attracted attention.”
“

Many University of Akron students have seen it. 

Even more have heard it.

The month-old mystique surrounding the elusive Rock the Roo truck has blazed across campus.

With more wattage in the trunk than any Caprice on South Arlington Street and rims that would make Pimp my Ride host Xzibit cry, the truck has certainly attracted attention.

That was exactly the plan, says E.J. Thomas Hall Executive Director Dan Dahl.

People were asking us to bring around more music and do more things on campus, he said. 

Some of the staff even installed speakers in the trunks of their own cars to promote various shows around Akron.

Eventually, the E.J. Thomas staff decided to make a statement and attract more students to the nearby events.

We thought it would be fun to promote to students on campus, Dahl said.

Before the transformation, the chosen truck hardly looked special.  Dahl and his staff took the 2005 Ford F150 with 56,000 miles to Custom Trim on Market Street.

After spending some $37,000 from E.J. Thomas Hall’s private fund, on paint, rims, a 5,000-watt audio system and gratuitous stage speakers for the bed, Dahl seemed pleased with his creation.

Students have reacted to it great, he said.  They stop and have their picture taken.  I think more people know what we’re doing at various events.

Freshman Kyle Flege spoke for many students when he admitted that he is really surprised at how good it looks.  I like the horn too.

E.J. Thomas Hall’s new truck is only part of the refreshingly aggressive campaign to attract more students to special events.

Booking top-tier acts such as Seether and NBC’s Last Comic Standing Tour along with local favorites like the Black Keys has made Akron’s only major performance hall one of the hottest spots for nearby Akron students in 2008.

E.J.’s partnership with the University and the Resident Hall Program Board also makes several free-for-students shows at the venue possible.

In the next week, Dahl said the truck will be out with new vigor to promote the Rock the Roo Lunchtime Concert Series, which offers free music and food on the Hall’s Plaza on Wednesdays at 11:30 p.m.

“