With only three months to go before the scheduled event, the USG has abandoned plans for a spring concert in the University stadium, according to a student government official familiar with the stadium concert discussions.
The decision was made during the first week of reading period in a closed-door session of the USG Senate.
"The USG leadership just decided that they hadn't done their homework on getting a good band," the official, who wished to remain anonymous, said. "It wasn't about money; it wasn't about the University. Tilghman was all in favor of it. I think it really just came down to them not being capable of finding a band that could fill that many seats."
Since the beginning of the academic year, the USG has been trying to save money to put on a stadium show and has cut back on some expenses that it would normally incur.
In September, USG treasurer Michael Kimberly '03 said the USG was doing everything it could to save money for the stadium show.
"Obviously a huge spring benefit concert in the stadium represents a greater financial cost than the customary spring concerts, and while the USG would surely rely on other University sources for money, we will need to set aside more of our own money as well," Kimberly said.
Kimberly, who was re-elected for a second term as treasurer, said almost all USG programs had gone under the budget knife to help the stadium concert cause.
"We really cut into everything — [USG president Joe] Kochan's salary, decorating our office, we even stopped advertising in the 'Prince!"
Daily Princetonian political analyst Jonathan Goldberg '02 — who has spent the last several months studying USG election reform on a grant from the dean of undergraduate students — said the cancellation of the stadium show would hurt Kochan's legacy.
"I think it's a serious issue. Joe's had a strong tenure, and I think this is a negative right at the end," he said. "But I wouldn't actually blame this on Joe. I think they are being honest when they say they can't find a band to fill all those seats. Even PJ couldn't have done it."
One USG senator who was present at the deliberations said he hoped that the incoming USG administration could find a good alternative to the stadium show.
"I understand why they couldn't find a band, but [USG president-elect Nina] Langsam had better figure out something to do with all this money," he said. "We're seriously talking about a quarter of a million dollars that they've saved up."
Decisions about USG concerts are normally made by the president, the social chair and the treasurer, not by the Senate. However, the senator said, this issue was so important that Kochan wanted to let the full Senate make the decision about whether to abandon the project.
"You've got to understand, this is basically the biggest thing any USG in Princeton history has ever tried to do. And these are a bunch of people who all take themselves very seriously. So they felt like it was a momentous decision," the senator said.
Senate sessions are typically not closed to the public. In fact, the USG constitution mandates that all Senate meetings be open to interested students. Goldberg said Kochan made use of a little known clause in the USG bylaws that allowed him to close the meeting.
"Basically, if the senate meets as the committee of the whole, instead of as the Senate, then the president becomes the chair, and the USG constitution, in rule 5-7c, allows committee meetings to be closed at the chair's discretion," Goldberg said.
Langsam, whose term begins with the new semester in February, was unavailable for comment. A student who is familiar with Langsam's position on the stadium concert issue said she had a plan to deal with the problem.
"Basically, Nina is going to appoint a commission that will look at how to put on a stadium show. They will put together a report, which will be released next fall. That way, the next USG administration will have the tools it needs to put together a stadium show in the future," the student said.
While most USG officials said it was reasonable that they could not find a band to fill the stadium, some students said that was a bad excuse.
Charter Club social chair Jeremy Wall '02 said finding a good band was not difficult.
"Okay, basically, I don't work very hard," Wall said. "I play a lot of beer pong. I hang out at Charter. But we had Eve 6 at Charter last year and I got O.A.R. this fall. This is just not a difficult job."
Goldberg said he expected that the stadium show issue would stick around long enough to be a major issue in the USG spring elections.
"This has become the third rail of USG politics," he said. "No one will want to touch it — but I think they will have to."
Kochan was not available for comment yesterday.
Read More
Seven members of the Class of 2025 selected for Spirit of Princeton award
Hayk YengibaryanThe award has been presented annually since 1995 and is determined by a selection committee based on nominations from members of the Princeton community.
The award has been presented annually since 1995 and is determined by a selection committee based on nominations from members of the Princeton community.
As endowment tax looms, Princeton asks departments to make plans for ‘permanent’ budget cuts, warns of potential layoffs
Christopher Bao and Annie RupertusPrinceton asked all departments and University units to prepare “separate plans for 5 percent and 10 percent permanent budget cuts to be phased in over the next three years in a memo sent Monday. Administrators warned of layoffs as the University prepares for a potential federal endowment tax, set to be debated in Congress later this week.
Princeton asked all departments and University units to prepare “separate plans for 5 percent and 10 percent permanent budget cuts to be phased in over the next three years in a memo sent Monday. Administrators warned of layoffs as the University prepares for a potential federal endowment tax, set to be debated in Congress later this week.
Newark airport disruptions snarl student travel plans
Cynthia TorresNewark has been facing disruptions for around two weeks amid a national air traffic controller shortage, leading to delays of up to five hours for some flights. As a result, some students flying home for the summer have changed their flights.
Newark has been facing disruptions for around two weeks amid a national air traffic controller shortage, leading to delays of up to five hours for some flights. Some students flying home for the summer and may be effected by delays and some students changed their flights.