U.C. Narrows Choices For Springfest Bands

The Campus Life Committee of the Undergraduate Council narrowed its choices of possible Springfest bands down to 10 last night but defeated a motion to poll students on the issue.

Early '80s rap group Run DMC heads the list of possible acts, joined by the Cowboy Junkies, Luscious Jackson, Redman, Doug E. Fresh, the Samples, God Street Wine, 1995 Springfest headliners G-Love and Special Sauce, as well as two more costly acts, the Wallflowers and They Might Be Giants.

The committee selected these groups from an original field of more than 30. A motion to canvas student preferences through a telephone or on-line poll failed to pass, in an 8-8 vote.

"It's a total farce that the [committee] refuses to find out what students think," committee member Frank J. Gorke '99 said after the meeting.

Committee co-chair Joseph A. Sena '99, who is a Crimson executive, explained his vote against polling, saying that some of the chosen acts could be unavailable for Springfest's April 26 date, or cost above the $9,000 price ceiling set by the council on Monday.

"To dupe students into thinking we can get a band that's not going to be available is a bad idea," Sena said. "That's not polling, that's lying."

Sena said he would propose a student poll again at the committee's meeting next week, following an inquiry into the availability of the listed groups.

Council Vice President Mark A. Price '98 encouraged students to e-mail their preferences for Springfest bands to uc-general@hcs.harvard.edu.

"This is really disappointing," council President Lamelle D. Rawlins '99 said after the polling motion was defeated. "Students have the right to voice their opinions and to care how a big chunk of their money is being spent. I really hope students will take it upon themselves to express their opinions about this."

According to former council President Robert M. Hyman '98, last year's Springfest, featuring the group Pharcyde, was able to draw a diverse audience.

"It was a really fun atmosphere," Hyman said. "A lot of people told me they wouldn't have come if Pharcyde hadn't been there."

Leaving the meeting, committee member Tally Zingher '99 was confident that the committee's eventual choice would meet with student approval.

"We're not going to get a band that students don't like," Zingher said. "There's no question about that.

According to former council President Robert M. Hyman '98, last year's Springfest, featuring the group Pharcyde, was able to draw a diverse audience.

"It was a really fun atmosphere," Hyman said. "A lot of people told me they wouldn't have come if Pharcyde hadn't been there."

Leaving the meeting, committee member Tally Zingher '99 was confident that the committee's eventual choice would meet with student approval.

"We're not going to get a band that students don't like," Zingher said. "There's no question about that.