'Voodoo Daddy' Will Headline Springfest

The Undergraduate Council wanted the funk for Springfest, but swing is what they'll get, Campus Life Committee Chair Stephen N. Smith '02 told the council at last night's meeting.

On Friday, George Clinton rejected the council's offers of $20,000 and $22,000, leading the council to submit its $15,000 bid to the swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy--who immediately accepted.

Clinton changed managers last weekend, Smith said. His new manager raised the funk artist's rate for college shows to $75,000 and cancelled all his previously scheduled dates.

The cancellations ruined the council's last chance to get Clinton, Smith said, because artists are often willing to play for considerably less than their normal price when they are performing other shows nearby.

By contrast, the council was able to hire Big Bad Voodoo Daddy because they were already performing locally.

The swing band usually charges $30,000 to $35,000 for an appearance. But the band jumped at the chance to play at Harvard on April 30 for only $15,000 because they plan to perform in Connecticut the day before.

Reactions to the announcement ranged from deep despair to optimism.

"I'm going to cry," said Krishnan N. Subrahmanian '03.

Frank X. Leonard '01, who was one of the most vocal supporters of a proposal to move the bids for Clinton to the top of the council's list, said he saw the glass as half-full.

"In a perfect world, we would have paid the 75 [thousand dollars] for George," Leonard said. "In the real world, 15 for Big Bad Voodoo Daddy isn't bad."

Council President Fentrice D. Driskell '01, while disappointed that the council was unable to secure Clinton's services for Springfest, noted that the cash-starved council will save $7,000 with the second-choice band.

The meeting also featured council Vice President John A. Burton '01 wielding the imaginary gavel for the first time, as Driskell ceded the chair to speak for an allocation bill she sponsored.

The bill--the first sponsored by Driskell during her presidency--called for $300 to be spent on physical improvements to the council office. It passed by a wide margin.

While occupying the chair, Burton stood alone at the podium, as council Secretary Jean E. Huang '03 and Parliamentarian Alexander A. Boni-Saenz '01were absent from the meeting.

After the meeting, Burton said he was relieved that no controversial issues came up while he was in the chair.

The meeting also saw the surprisingly narrow passage of a bill allocating money to fund a St. Patrick's Day dance that would cap off Spirit Week on March 18, despite the protests of Samuel C. Cohen '00.

Cohen said no one would trek to the Quad to attend a dry dance on St. Patrick's weekend.

Many council members seemed to agree with Cohen's assessment until Katie E. Tenney '01 made a somewhat unconventional point.

"You get drunk before you go," Tenney said, to considerable applause. The bill passed 34-23, with five abstentions.

The council also passed a bill allocating money to pay for the First-Year Formal, which will be held on Friday.

Bradley L. Davis '00 took issue with the First-Year Caucus fixing the ticket price at $20--as opposed to the usual $15--without consulting the council first. The council decided not to consider his motion to cut the price in light of the fact that tickets have already been printed and sold.

In a lighter moment, the First-Year Caucus presented Driskell, who turned 21 on Friday, with a birthday card.

After the card, the entire council sang "Happy Birthday" to a pleased-looking president.