On Tuesday, Nov. 13, the Macalester College Student Government Legislative Board voted to hold and fund Springfest, though there had been some talk of canceling the event.
MCSG formed a Springfest task force this year to make sure that students still support the event. In a survey the task force conducted, 88.6 percent of nearly 300 students who were surveyed said they wanted to continue Springfest, which has been a Macalester tradition for as long as anyone can remember.
Because of the overwhelmingly positive response, the task force recommended to the Legislative Board on Tuesday that Springfest be held. The board signed off on the task force's $35,705 funding request, $20,000 of which will be dispersed in the fall so the task force can begin signing bands.
Task force chair Beth Hunphrey '02 said that when she tabled for the survey, she noticed a mixed response from students.
"A lot of upperclassmen seemed to be pretty shocked that we could even consider not having Springfest," she said.
Humphrey herself hoped the measure would pass. "I think this is a really important event because it draws so many students," she said.
Springfest is an outdoor music festival held on Shaw Field every spring. At the festival, there is typically one big headliner and two smaller bands that play on the main stage. Macalester bands play on a second stage.
A large part of the cost of Springfest goes to paying the bands. Last year, the headlining band, Digital Underground, cost $10,000.
"While a smaller festival with local bands could be planned to conserve money, it is the big bands that people end up coming to see," Humphrey said.
She said that the remainder of the money will go toward other expenses and novelty items. In the past, these have included such things as a Velcro wall, a moonwalk and a fun picture booth. There is typically free food such as popcorn and cotton candy, along with food to buy. The beer garden, open to those students who are 21 and over, is always popular.
This past week, the task force tabled for another survey in the lower level of the Campus Center to see what bands and novelty items students wanted at the event, Humphrey said. Students could also nominate a chairperson and a music coordinator, or could sign up to help with the planning committee.
All of the money for the event comes from the MCSG funds, although Campus Programs may be another source to look at this year, Humphrey said.
Anisa Kintz, a first-year who has never experienced Springfest, said that even though the cost appears excessive, the event should still be held.
"I think that we should have Springfest because it sounds like it is a good bonding experience," she said. "Anything that brings the community together is very important."
If the event is held, she said that she will definitely attend.
"I don't think that $35,000 has to go into the event, though," Kintz said. "It seems like an equally exciting event could be held for much less money."
