Traditionally, Student Events has brought one major musical artist to Brandeis per semester, with a smattering of smaller names reserved for Springfest at the end of the year. However, this semester, Student Events has opted to reformat its concert agenda to better incorporate students' musical tastes and, more importantly, save them a substantial amount of money, demonstrating that it is still possible to put on great events in these turbulent times. There were a few problems with the previous approach that left some people unsatisfied and some coffers unfilled. For one, spending so much on one artist left little money for other, smaller acts throughout the semester.

In addition, big-name artists like Nas, who performed last semester, are a double-edged sword. It's true that well-known artists will immediately garner more enthusiasm and perhaps put our University's name on the radar as a possible venue for other artists, but such an event runs the risk of alienating students who feel like their tastes aren't being respected or satisfied. In the past, we've felt the approach was simply a contest to get the biggest name available rather than finding an artist students would actually enjoy.

Student Events' approach to Springfest this semester shows a sound handling of both these issues. For starters, instead of having a separate spring concert, Student Events condensed all funds and efforts into Springfest, a financially efficient solution. This approach also allowed for a more diverse selection of artists, ranging from indie rock (the Decembrists) to modern hip hop (Asher Roth).

These artists were also the result of a vote organized by Student Events, allowing for the greatest number of happy customers. These measures show a sound appreciation not only for the tastes of the student body but for the need to remain fiscally wise.

In a time when everyone is cutting costs, we applaud Student Events for taking the initiative, as one of the leading student organizations, to reduce their spending while still serving the community.