Outkast Will Not Perform Concert

Despite efforts by the Harvard Concert Commission (HCC), hip-hop group Outkast will not be coming to campus this spring, commission head and Undergraduate Council President Sujean S. Lee ’03 said yesterday.

The announcement came at last night’s introductory meeting for pre-frosh—a meeting that concluded with an internal critique of the council after the majority of the pre-frosh and most council members left the meeting early.

Lee said that the HCC made a bid on the popular hip-hop group but because of the band’s recent increase in booking rate and the short notice for the proposed May 7 concert date, the band would be unable to perform.

“We just don’t have the money to make a bid that would definitely be accepted. Our bid was $55,000 and their standard asking price is probably $80,000 to $90,000 at the least,” Lee said.

Associate Dean of the College David P. Illingworth ’71—who must approve of any bid made by the HCC—initially expressed concern about bidding on Outkast.

Illingworth wrote in an e-mail that other College and athletic department administrators said they were concerned that Outkast’s “language may not be acceptable for many audiences, and also that, reportedly, Rosa Parks once sued the group.”

But Illingworth’s concerns were assuaged after he listened to more of Outkast’s music and spoke to HCC members.

Lee said that the most difficult part of the process has been getting the administration to approve a bid and allow the HCC to use Bright Hockey Center for concerts.

“I think [the fact] that the bid was approved, in and of itself, was huge,” said Lee. “On just a financial scale it is a huge project that has never been done before. It is just such a massive project, and the fact that it is unprecedented, I think, is why it has taken awhile.”

But, said Lee, now that the administration has given the go-ahead for a concert at Bright, the concert commission will likely be able to have a concert on May 7.

“One of the options that we are thinking of is a joint concert of Jurassic 5 and Guster, we’re thinking individually neither is as big [a] name as Outkast but together they are a dynamic, diverse combination, both of which are popular at Harvard,” said Lee.

Lee said that the HCC will meet later this week to discuss making a bid on the two bands.

This past fall the HCC promised at least three concerts at Harvard this year. Next weekend’s The Verve Pipe concert at Springfest will be the second concert of the academic year.

Following the announcement that the HCC was unable to book Outkast at last night’s meeting, Lee moderated an internal critique of the council.

She said she wanted to address the council’s “effectiveness on campus and value as an extracurricular activity.”

But more than half of approximately 50 council members filed out as Lee announced her idea to hold the discussion.

Council members concluded that they needed to improve enthusiasm and involvement within the council as well as outreach to the larger student body.

“We’re in the middle stage in which now the administration is looking to our opinion, but it is only our opinion right now,” said council member Alex B. Patterson ’02.

He suggested creating a “seamless web” of communication with the House Committees.

The turnout among pre-frosh—who attended last night’s council meeting for pre-frosh weekend—numbered in the twenties. However, most left half-way through the meeting.

“It was pretty poorly run. It did not engage people as much as one would think for the Undergraduate Council,” said pre-frosh Max Winfield of Chicago.

This meeting was the council’s only effort to reach out to pre-frosh—Lee said she told those coordinating pre-frosh weekend only to “advertise the general meeting.”

Nevertheless, Lee said she was pleased with the pre-frosh attendance at the meeting.

“I thought it was a good turnout,” she said.

—Staff writer Joseph P. Flood can be reached at flood@fas.harvard.edu

—Staff writer Claire A. Pasternack can be reached at cpastern@fas.harvard.edu.