FOCUS: Gloomy Prospects PART II

Since 1990 SPEC has had as many as 14 committees at one time, Todd said. It now has ten: Art Gallery, Technical, Homecoming, Jazz Festival, Spring Fling, Film Society, Crafts Fair, Special Events, Concerts and Minority Concerns. Todd said SPEC started out with a $43,000 debt to SAC it inherited from the former Spring Fling committee, a deficit which it is still paying off with the money its events generate. And although last year's Fling yielded a profit, Todd said "all SPEC revenues go to paying the debt." "SPEC never tries to make a profit," Todd said. "Everything is at cost." "If a committee does make money," she added, "that money goes right back into programming." Administrators said they think students want consistently programmed activities in addition to major events, but SPEC officials said they cannot count on student involvement and support. "[The University needs] simple, predictable, reliable things [to do] that you don't have to check an events board for," Moneta said. "Places to go without planning." Todd said there are not many minor activities because of a lack of funding, in addition to a lack of student participation. "We have continued pressure to do consistent programming, [but] the money needs to come from somewhere," Todd said. She said the Film Society sponsors bi-weekly movies which draw 60-100 people every two weeks, but that the same people are attracted to each showing. SPEC also provided free concerts on Superblock which featured up-and-coming bands this fall, but student turnout was not very large. Krautter said the best student turnouts are for big name performers like Kevin Nealon, the Indigo Girls and Dennis Miller, but these concerts are expensive to organize. SPEC leaders said that last year's Blues Traveler concert during Spring Fling, for instance, cost $70,000. But student leaders on campus said that they know from experience that big names don't mean everything. InterFraternity Council President Jeff Blount said his organization cosponsored a comedy show with SPEC during this year's Greek Week which featured three "big name" performers, and only 500 people attended, he said. "On one hand, it's a good turnout, but compared to other parties on campus that weekend [that had] only a DJ, [it's kind of disappointing]," said Blount, a Wharton senior. And even though many SPEC events might draw people away from Greek activities on campus, Blount said, the more SPEC can involve students, the better. "The more alternatives in regards to social activities [the] better," he said. "There is room on campus for a wide range of activities." "I encourage them to find any activity that would [attract students]," Blount said. But despite sometimes lacking student attendance at SPEC-sponsored activities, Todd said that she believes students recognize the importance of her organization. Last year SPEC began S.O.S. -- Save Our SPEC -- a petition-signing drive for undergraduates who want SPEC to remain on campus. Hundreds of students signed their names under the proclamation: "We, the undersigned students of the University of Pennsylvania, support the vital role that the Social Planning and Events Committee (SPEC) plays in enhancing Penn's social environment. This affirms our desire that SPEC should continue in future years to provide social prgramming for the university community in order to make the collegiate experience more complete." And other student leaders said that, although they too see a role for SPEC at the University, they do not believe that SPEC benfits the entire University community. United Minorities Council Chairperson Pam Urueta said that SPEC "targets and gets a certain group [of students that] isn't demonstrative of who's here." "SPEC could be very valuable," said Urueta, a College senior. "Right now it is to a select group of students." Urueta said that the SPEC's Minority Concerns Committee works hard, but there needs to be a "concerted effort" between SPEC and the minority community "to work together." · Administrators and campus leaders agree that SPEC plays a vital role at the University by providing students with non-alcohol-related oportunities to socialize and have fun. "I think SPEC will remain," Krautter said. "Where the money is going to come from, I don't know." She said she assumes the organization will receive all of next year's budget from student activities funds allocated by the UA. But, even when Todd leaves office at the semester's end, no one will know for sure. Todd said she'll just hope for the best. "We're a solid committee [that] meets people's needs," she said. "We do good programming to enhance people's lives at Penn." "It's that simple."