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Printer-Friendly ModeSurvey of musical tastes requires participation
December 4, 2006 —
Few will dispute that the average college student cares a great deal about music, and given the amount of time and money we invest in it, there is no surprise when it becomes the focus of our conversations and criticism. Much is the case at SVSU, where music performances (or the lack thereof) have drawn the ire of many, including this publication. Two years ago, we criticized the amount of money spent on Ludacris and last year some of us wondered why any money at all was spent on bringing Dashboard Confessional to campus.
Each time, the target of this criticism has been Program Board, the organization charged with providing entertainment to students. And while the merit of that criticism has been debated, there is no debate that the organization's latest move should draw nothing but applause.
An e-mail sent last week to the student body on behalf of the Program Board requests feedback via survey on a number of issues that could directly affect the annual end-of-year concert. The survey prompts students to disclose their thoughts on a number of issues ranging from preferred music genres to preferred ticket prices. The survey should take most students no more than a few minutes to complete yet will provide Program Board with the type of information it needs to help ensure it makes an informed decision on the interests and needs of the students it represents.
With that said, a survey is only as good as those who take it, and the ball is now in our court in regards to whether or not the desired information is provided. Program Board has indicated the survey was created with the year-end concert in mind but also that it received poor feedback on similar surveys in the past. If there was ever a time where one's opinion mattered, it is now. By taking a couple of minutes to answer a few questions, we can help ensure our interests are addressed; that, in the end, is all anyone can ask for.
Perhaps equally important to filling out the survey is the urgency in which it should be filled out. If history is of any indication, Program Board aims to decide on the main act towards the end of January into February, meaning a decision is just about two months away. However, when considering the end of this semester is already upon us and that the holidays tend to go by faster than most can believe, that decision will occur quickly and before most even realize there was a decision to be made.
For this particular event, we cannot allow ourselves to be apathetic. Thousands of dollars of our money is about to be spent on an act that many will love, many will hate, and some will have never heard of. We live in a society in which the majority rules and, in this case, we must make sure that majority speaks its mind as to whom to bring to campus. If that majority fails to speak up, all we will have accomplished is an assurance that we will be deemed hypocrites when we complain about the choices made. Ultimately, Program Board has done its part. Now it's time to do ours.