SPA Planning Spring Concert

The Student Production Association (SPA) is laying the groundwork for a campus-wide concert with a nationally acclaimed pop artist, said student members yesterday.

If the SPA can pin down a performer, it plans to hold a concert in Bright Hockey Center or the Stadium this spring.

Three weeks ago Sting agreed to perform at Harvard, but "his management pulled the blanket about a week ago due to his upcoming record commitment," said John N. Axelrod '88, member of SPA.

The student group is now scrambling to find a performer for a concert that they say may benefit the anti-apartheid movement.

Members of the SPA said that they have talked with managers of music groups interested in performing at an anti-apartheid benefit, but they refused to say which bands and artists they are negotiating with or how close they are to a contract.

Formative Stages

"We're still in the formative stages of negotiations with management," said James D. Chung '88, a member of SPA. "I'm not in any position to say anything further."

Chung said that he can't say which bands the SPA is negotiating with because he "doesn't want unreasonable expectations built up." He added that there is only a "50-50 chance" for landing a well-known artist because the SPA started planning the concert too late.

But Chung said he is confident the College will host a concert this year. But whether it will be "something more significant" in the form of an anti-apartheid benefit concert or just a "regular college concert," Chung said, "I just can't say at the moment."

Although the SPA is a separate body from the council, members have been keeping the council informed about their progress. However, Undergraduate Council Chairman Richard S. Eisert '88 said he has been kept in the dark and is upset at how slowly things have been moving.

"I'm starting to get impatient," said Eisert. "We [the Undergraduate Council] were expecting to hear something as early as the first meeting of this term," added Eisert.