Council Plans Referendum on Grateful Dead Rock Concert

The Undergraduate Council voted unanimously last night to hold a student referendum on whether the council should sponsor a concert of the rock band The Grateful Dead.

The vote came in response to concern among council members that the choice of the band is controversial among students. "I've talked to a lot of people who say they want the Dead and I've talked to a lot of people who say they don't want the Dead. The referendum is a response to our constituents which shows we want to hear their views," said member Ethan H. Cohen '86.

The referendum, to be held in the dining halls December 12 through December 14, will be non-binding. This is the first time the two-year-old council has sponsored a referendum on a council-related issue.

Last year the council sponsored two referenda--on a nuclear weapons freeze and on Harvard divestiture from South Africa--at the request of other student groups. Both resolutions passed with about a 40 percent response rate, according to council officers.

Pending Approval

One reason the referendum must be non-binding is that the concert has not yet received University Hall approval. The council's social committee, which has been working on the project since mid-October, has recently found a backer who is willing to put up the $100,000 fee the rock band is asking.

Social committee members say that the backer, businessman James Adler, can expect to gross about $400,000 from tickets, which would probably be sold to area college students. The details of the concert--which would likely be held in Harvard Stadium--will be worked out with University officials if they approve it, social committee members said.

But security and logistical considerations have so far prevented administrators from making a decision. Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III is expected to give a final verdict early next week, according to council officers.

Although the council will not wait for Epps's decision to begin conducting the referendum, Chairman Gregory S. Lyss '85 notes. "If Epps says no, the question will be moot."

Members said that student backing might make it easier to receive administration approval, while also spreading out responsibility for the project.

"If anything goes wrong with the concert, it takes the blame off us if we have student approval," said Stuart A. Raphael '86.

When the referendum is held, the council will distribute a fact sheet at polling places summarizing the major arguments for and against the concert.

In other business, the council approved a resolution changing the election process for vacated seats. The amendments to the bylaws will allow the representatives from the district and the district's house committee chairman to appoint a successor until midterm elections are held at the end of the fall semester. Under the previous by-laws, a special election--administered by the council's vice-chair--filled each vacancy as it occurred.

The tough attendance policy has caused many members to be expelled from the council, requiring a special election in each case. "It does tend to wear on the vice-chair," said Victor G. Freeman '84, adding. "For this reason I think we ought to approve it.