College Officials Approve Concert by Elvis Costello

The College yesterday gave the final approval for the Student Production Association's (SPA) plan to invite English new wave star Elvis Costello on a trip across the Atlantic for a one-night appearance at Harvard.

Undergraduate Council Chairman Richard S. Eisert '88 met with College administrators "to double-check" the plans for the May 1 show at Bright Hockey Center.

The College gave its consent after the Undergraduate Council Sunday voiced unanimous approval of the SPA's plans to snare Costello in the form of a $12,200 loan.

"I spoke to Jack Reardon on Friday and got his approval for the use of Bright Center. Then I double checked with Dean [of the College L. Fred] Jewett on Saturday, and spoke with Dean [of Students Archie C.] Epps for about 20 minutes today and he seemed to think there was no problem," Eisert said.

Eisert added, however, that the deans were concerned about who would attend the concert. "They feel the best thing is to open the concert first to undergraduates, but they understood that if there's dire financial need we can consider restricted sales to other students at specified colleges," he said.

The concert "certainly could" set a precedent for future concerts at Harvard, Epps said. "I hope their plans will come to fruition because a concert will enable members of the college to participate in a unifying event," Epps said.

Chairman of the Athletic Department John P. Reardon '60, who approved the use of Bright Hockey Center, also said he hopes Costello appears at Harvard. Reardon said earlier this week that he is "verysupportive" of the idea of a concert and "canforsee no problems" with using Bright as theconcert stage.

In the fear of Costello's declining the offer,the SPAs decided to increase their original bid of$30,000 to the $33,500 for which Costello'smanagement asked.

"We thought they would have probably accepted abid of $30,000 but then we ran the risk ofinsulting Costello's people," said SPA memberJames D. Chung '87. "It's definitely not worth itto risk losing Costello over a small amount ofabout $3,000."

SPA members said they will raise the additionalmoney from increased corporate sponsorship andticket sales.

If Costello does accept SPA's invitation, theshow will be the first major concert at Harvardsince REM performed here three years ago.

SPA Co-Chairman, Jill Harrison '90 said all thegroup can do now is "sit and wait" for a responsefrom Costello's management.

And, not only students will be hoping forCostello to accept SPA's invitation. Epps said hedoes not have any of Costello's albums, but hehopes, "Mr. Costello accepts their [SPA]invitation.