College Shorts - 02/18/10

St. Michael’s gets Third Eye Blind for concert

On April 16, popular ’90s band Third Eye Blind will play at St. Michael’s College in Burlington.

A survey released last year showed that the campus preferred a spring concert that featured a rock band.

“The top genre was rock, overwhelmingly rock,” said secretary of programming Claire McQuillen. “So then we highlighted all the popular [bands] and made a list of about 15 or 20. We then gave it to our Student Association representatives and asked them who they think would draw in bigger crowds.”

Other possibilities considered were the Dropkick Murphys and MGMT. Trey Anastasio of Phish wanted to play at St. Michael’s this year, but he was too pricey for the college.

The decision has sparked an array of Facebook groups, including “Say No to Third Eye Blind,” “Say Yes to Third Eye Blind” and “Say No To People Who Say No To Third Eye Blind.”

“Every year there are people who oppose it,” McQuillen said. “But I think we’re seeing it a lot more this year than last.”

She added that some of the choices of the student body were a little too ambitious.

“Students were asking for headliners like Lady Gaga,” McQuillen said. “But the problem is we have a school of 2,000 people, only so much money, we’re confined to certain dates and the availability of the band, not to mention they must be approved by the administration for appropriateness.”

— The Defender

Dartmouth announces numerous staff cuts

Dartmouth announced on Feb. 15 that they would lay off 38 non-teaching staff members this week, as well as reintroducing student loans next year.

These significant changes are being made in an attempt to close a projected recurring annual budget gap of $100 million. Dartmouth plans to lay off a “similar number” in April, and 33 additional employees will be asked to work reduced hours.

Starting with the Class of 2014, financial-aid recipients from families with incomes above $75,000 to take out loans of $2,500 to $5,500. Williams College also ended their no-loan plan recently.

The Board of Trustees also approved a 4.6 percent increase in undergraduate fees for next year, to $52,275.

— The New York Times

Pipe bomb found on Pierce College campus

A man located a pipe bomb at a small pond located on the Pierce College campus, Feb. 15.

He brought the bomb into the Pierce College sheriff’s station and told deputies he found it by a pond on the campus.

Though the campus was already closed for the President’s Day holiday, detectives cleared the area as they searched the it for additional devices. None were located.

While the device was live, it did not appear to be connected to any specific threat against the school.

No students or faculty members were in the area when the bomb was located because of the holiday.

— The Los Angeles Times