The U.C. Shows a Sign of Competence

After the Undergraduate Council's recent illegitimate referendum, we are pleased to see a small glimmer of hope--and competence. The council-organized performance by alternative band They Might Be Giants at Memorial Hall last Thursday was, by all accounts, a complete success.

The popular act attracted a sell-out crowd (approximately 1,000 students), marking a welcome departure from the council's past experiences organizing concerts. The concert cost the council $18,000, $12,000 of which was recovered in ticket sales. The remaining $6,000 served to keep the cost of tickets low.

Much of the credit goes to concert organizer John Mann '92-'94. Playing the role of organizer (and student representative), Mann talked to students and developed a realistic opinion of which bands would be popular at Harvard. He then followed through by talking to the band's management and tour schedulers to make sure the show would actually happen, unlike the failed Blind Melon and Digable Planets attempts. The concert was well-publicized and well-attended, unlike the De La Soul disaster of 1992. And ticket-buyers seemed to get exactly what they expected. Daniel S. Quint '97 even called the show "awesome."

Despite this obvious success and Yardfest this past weekend, it is still quite frustrating to have to point to They Might Be Giants as the sole campus musical performance by a nationally known band. Mann evidently understands the importance of continued success: "Harvard students aren't used to having frequent shows, subsidized shows, good shows. I hope I've started it, and I hope it continues." We certainly hope so too. Yet we also hope that when the council responsibly organizes a "good show," the event will no longer be considered a uniqe "success."