Breaking a Little 500 tradition

It's here: the week you've all been waiting for. It's the two days where many of you have an excuse to bong, binge and be drunk. For the riders, it's your final chance to mount your Mongoose bicycles and put your training to the ultimate test. I wish you all the best and no wrecks. For the IU Student Foundation, your long hours of hard work have almost paid off. Congratulations. \nI just have one question for the Union Board … Where's the concert?\nI've attended every Little 500 concert since I've been an IU student. Last year it was Guster. They played an amazing show preparing many students for the race weekend. I especially enjoyed the impromptu song about "Natty Light." Two years ago, it was Nelly. He hopped on stage, rapped a little bit and left. I wasn't very impressed by him, but I still enjoyed the concert atmosphere. The year before the St. Louis rapper graced us with his presence, it was the Red Hot Chili Peppers. And this year, after much anticipation -- it's nothing. \nAs much as I was entertained by Hoosier Idol, it simply didn't replace the annual concert. I appreciate the Union Board's creativity with popular culture, but this innovation shouldn't be at the expense of a tradition of excellent shows. \nSpeaking of tradition, the Union Board lists "striving to maintain and enhance the traditions and heritage of the Indiana Memorial Union and Union Board" as one of their four main goals in their mission statement. This year they've broken a tradition. \nI could understand canceling the concert if something horrific happened last year at the Guster show but I only heard great things about that show. Why change what isn't broken?\nAccording to an article published in the IDS last week, Claire Tramm said Union Board wants to "diversify programming and still entertain a large community." \nThe only real way to get big results is to think big -- just as the Union Board has done in the past. And big means well-known bands. The ride seems a little rocky for the Union Board this year. The only artist I've heard about this semester is Ani DiFranco. I like Ani, but I saw her last year. It's time to look into something new, something that would really "entertain a large community." \nLittle 500 is a solid opportunity for Union Board to showcase its projects while simultaneously bringing in some money. All it requires is planning, paying and playing. I was on the committee freshman year, I know how it works. The committee meets, they vote on shows, and then they volunteer at the shows. It's fairly simple. I'm wondering why someone didn't speak up when their fellow committee member came up with the idea to cancel the concert this year. After all, their Web site calls the Union Board the largest student programming body on the IUB campus.\nI don't mean to call anyone out, but when I think about some of my most entertaining experiences at IU, I think about the concerts. And the Union Board deserves the credit for most of these shows. I am disappointed that we will not have a traditional Little 500 concert.