Plex Show to Have Nominal Effect on Future of Concerts

Due to the low number of alcohol-related transports from the Oct. 21 Plex Show, the event should not impact the possibility of having a Spring Concert, student leaders said.

A total of 10 patients were assessed for apparent intoxication at Plexapalooza. Six were transported to St. Elizabeth's Hospital, two were transported to the infirmary, and two were released to a sober adult party after an evaluation period.

After debriefing with administrators following the event, Mike Zarrilli, executive director of campus entertainment for UGBC and CSOM '12, said that while student behavior was still an issue for administrators, their actions should not affect the moratorium.

"The sense I got was that [the administration is] still not thrilled with the number of students who are showing up intoxicated to these types of events, but our numbers weren't bad so there's no rush to cancel other events," he said. "I don't think the possibility of having a Spring Concert was impacted by the Plex Show."

Michael Kitlas, president of UGBC and A&S '12, agreed. "The sense that I get of the administration's response to event is that it went well, and from the conversations that we had it should not have any impact on the efforts we are putting forward to get the concerts back," he said.

From an administrative standpoint, the Plex Show was just one of many factors being considered in connection with lifting the moratorium. "There are many factors contributing to the future of large scale events," said Mark Miceli, associate director of the Student Programs Office. "I would say that if there were more incidents or issues, it could have potentially had a negative impact."

Miceli said that the administration is continuing to collect information to determine how they will move forward with large-scale concerts. "We are continuing to review and evaluate all of the programs and events that take place under the purview of the Student Programs Office," he said. "The continued health and safety of students prior to, during, and after events remains a priority in all of our decisions."

Kitlas, together with a small group of Student Affairs staff members, have been collecting data – interviewing students and staff, conducting a survey of students, and conducting focus groups of students – and benchmarking with other schools about concerts and large scale events.

"The recommendations that will come from that process are directly related to large-scale concerts and how we move forward with them," Miceli said.