The Triangle

Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Ian McDonald-The Triangle The Campus Activity Board sells tickets to events on campus and around the city. CAB is using student suggestions to compile a list of potential Spring Jam bands.

The Campus Activities Board is taking suggestions from students as they begin the process of deciding on a band to play at Spring Jam.

The final decision will be made March 1, according to the Assistant Director of Traditions and the person in charge of organizing this year's Spring Jam, Anu Singh. Right now, they are collecting ideas from students with a poll on the CAB web site, along with a Facebook group discussion board.

According to Singh, they have a list of 100 bands that were suggested. From that list, she said CAB will narrow it down to 10 bands by Feb. 11. After that, CAB works with a middle agent and the Assistant Director of Campus Activities for Campus Programming, Rebecca Dzara, to establish which bands are affordable.

"After a month of gathering student feedback, a large list is given to CAB's middle agent, along with the two possible dates, and a price range that CAB can afford to pay for the artist. The middle agent narrows the list down to the artists that are affordable and/or are not in the area, busy touring, etcetera," Dzara said.

CAB President Nicole Martino said from the bands available, members of CAB must unanimously agree on which band to pick.

Last year, CAB paid Jack's Mannequin $50,000 for the contract to play at Spring Jam. The band's ground transportation, hotel, and food were also paid for in addition to the cost to perform, according to Martino.

This year, Singh said the budget is about the same, with $50 to $55,000 allocated for just the band's contract.

While CAB offers opportunities online to suggest bands, many students said they are unaware of how the band is chosen. Most students The Triangle spoke with were not even aware they had a say in who appeared at Spring Jam.

According to Martino, she has received 35 responses from the poll on the CAB website. On the Facebook group, which has 563 members, there have been 45 suggestions.

Martino said that many of the student suggestions are unrealistic because CAB cannot afford most of the popular bands people want to see. Singh added that along with financial restrictions, it is difficult to convince a worldwide band to come perform for a small audience at Drexel in Philadelphia.

Continued...

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