Well, I have paid $10 this year to help bring big acts to campus, and I have yet to see a big act.

The University Board just announced the coming of Dave Chapelle and the Counting Crows as the two concerts this spring funded by the students’ concert fee.

My $10 has gone to waste. Last year the UB had bright promises of diverse acts and popular acts. While the Counting Crows have just released a new album, in my opinion, they fall under the “mediocre” category filled last semester by Everclear.

Everclear and Counting Crows are hardly the diverse groups promised by the UB during the concert fee campaign.

But then, I suppose, any campaign will say anything constituents want to hear to get votes. Unfortunately, promises often go unfulfilled after the election has been won.

I voted no for the concert fee because I did not believe the UB could deliver on its promises. And it looks like I was right.

Perhaps I should go to one of the concerts. If I don’t, people will get discount tickets on my tab, and they won’t just be students. I’m sure many non-students got discounted tickets last semester. What are the chances that will change?

I suppose you could call the upcoming Dave Chapelle performance the “diverse” act for this year. But if you’re like me and not into comedy acts, you still lose out.

Last year, UB said it would bring country, rap and other types of music to campus.

Of course, you can’t please everyone. That phrase is tossed around a lot for various reasons as the rationalization for why one thing is chosen over another.

The problem is this year the people being pleased are the same for both concerts.

Last semester, the UB said it didn’t bring a bigger act to campus because the committee was inexperienced and couldn’t handle a bigger act. So what is the excuse now?

I suppose it is good the UB got two concerts for the spring. However, does anyone else realize attendance won’t be too good at a concert the weekend of Easter? Unfortunately, that date was one of only a few for which Lantz Arena was available, but actually choosing that date is like throwing students’ fee money into a black hole.

Nothing can be done about the dates Lantz Arena is available, but another mediocre act like last semester certainly won’t keep students here on Easter weekend.

The concert fee was created to have a budget, so concerts had room to lose money. It’s a great idea, but wouldn’t it be better to concentrate on making more money so eventually Eastern can afford to bring the bigger acts? The reason to have the fund should be to earn money and not to lose it.

The UB had the right idea with imposing a concert fee, but now it needs to prove that fund is deserved. It needs to prove to students their money isn’t being wasted.

The UB did not prove that to me before the concert fee vote and still has not, and now it is too late.