R.E.M. Rocks Harvard in Council Bash

A student helping to promote last Right's R E M concert was apparently robbed yesterday of $1000 in cash intended as payment for the support hind Husker Du.

The money was found last night by two freshmen, it was announced at the concert Undergraduate Chancel members were reportedly unable to reach the two to confirm the recovery.

James M. Barber Jr '85 told Cambridge police he cashed a $1000 check from the council, the sponsor of the event, at the BayBank Harvard Trust Co yesterday morning. He said he put the money in his shoulder bag before leaving the bank.

After walking a block, Barber checked his bag and found the cash gone.

"Somewhere along the line something happened," said David C Vendler '85, a council member and one of the organizers of last night's performance We just don't know what he added.

Vendler said Husker Du had asked to be paid in cash.

Barber was unavailable for comment last night.

The support hand played as scheduled last night. According to council Vice Chairman Brian R. Melende '86, Barber was able to raise $840 from private sources to pay the band, and the council loaned him the remaining $160.

Melendez said that the council is under no legal obligation to repay Barber, who was act ing not as their representative but as the local manager for Husker Du.

"Once we gave him that check, our portion of the contract was fulfilled," he said.

Council Chairman Gregory S. Lyes '85 yesterday refused to comment on the incident.

A Cambridge police officer said yesterday that there are no suspects in the alleged theft, adding that he doubted the Department would continue to actively investigate the incident.

The amount of money involved was too small to merit a follow-up investigation, the officer explained