For the second straight year, the Electric Factory will host a concert paid for with Penn's dollars. The Social Planning and Events Committee to Represent Undergraduate Minorities has again chosen the off-campus location for its spring concert, which now has nothing to do with Penn Relays, as it did for many years.
The separation from Relays makes some sense, as the famous track meet is scheduled in the midst of final exams this year. At least this way students may be more likely to make the effort to see rap artist Common.
And while last year's concert by Kanye West was quite successful, the outlook for students putting in the effort to see Common downtown is less optimistic. This is, of course, in contrast to what would happen if the concert were held on campus within walking distance for students and the community.
While buses will provide free transportation, that is still much more of a hassle than should be necessary to go to a Penn-sponsored event.
Granted, the Electric Factory is a superior concert venue, complete with staff, security and equipment. That's the business they're in after all. But it is a bit of a stretch to see the University in the business of funding an off-campus concert that now has very little connection to Penn at all.
If the goal were to attract interest among students, then the concert would be held in at a campus venue such as Wynn Commons or Hill Square. This unfortunately does not appear to be the goal of the SPEC-TRUM concert this year.
This type of show belongs on campus, and the University should mandate that it return in the future.
