Phish may play at U.; SPEC contests plan

The Junior Class Board wants to sponsor a Phish concert at the Palestra this spring. Although the Social Planning and Events Committee is not against bringing the alternative band to campus, SPEC President and College senior Lissette Monge said she is disturbed by the way the Junior Class is planning the concert. The Office of Student Life would not allow the Junior Class to continue with the concert plans without SPEC's and the Undergraduate Assembly's support, according to College junior Michael Nadel, the Junior Class vice president for corporate sponsorship. At a UA meeting last night, he urged the body to support the Junior Class in its efforts to bring the band Phish to campus. Nadel said later the Junior Class did not approach SPEC with their plans to bring Phish to the University until last night's meeting. When asked why he by-passed the SPEC Concert Committee when initiating the concert plans, Nadel said the Junior Board did not want to deal with the "territoriality issue" between the two organizations. "The Class Boards had a window of opportunity to get Phish," Nadel said. "And [we're] not inclined to worry about bureaucracy or structure in order to do so." UA representative and College junior Eric Tienou said he disagreed with how the Junior Board proceeded with planning the concert. "In coming up with this idea, the Class Boards knew they would have to go through the Office of Student Life or the Office of the Vice Provost for University Life," Tienou said. "At that point, they should have tried to work with SPEC –– not after they went to the two offices." Monge said she was concerned that members of the Junior Class took the wrong approach in trying to obtain their goal. "They went about it the wrong way –– they didn't follow procedures," Monge said. "They should have spoken to us about it, but instead, went straight to VPUL." But, she said the biggest question is whether Phish will come to the Palestra at all. Monge said the first step towards securing a band has not even been dealt with –– sending out the bids. "This band has not confirmed they will come yet," said Monge. "The band is not close to coming to town." Junior Class President and Wharton junior Lenny Chang agreed with Monge on the status of the band. "I don't want to burst anyone's bubble, but it's not a good possibility of this happening anyway," Chang said. "It really is not a done deal –– not by a long shot." But Nadel said he remains certain that the Junior Class can bring Phish to students. "If people would put territoriality concerns aside, I'm sure we will bring Phish," Nadel said. He added that the band's request for $100,000 to play at the Palestra is not an issue. "We don't need money to bring Phish," Nadel said. But Chang said he disagrees. "There is no money for it yet," he said. "We have a contact, and that's it." Monge said if the Junior Class had gone to SPEC's Concert committee for money, they would have sufficient funds. "We have the budget for this kind of thing," Monge said.

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