The Campus Activities Board’s concerts division received a shot in the arm Sunday with the addition of $40,000 to its budget.

The increase from the Student Senate should allow CAB to sponsor some sort of concert for the spring semester, concert coordinator Mike Brady said.

The money comes after disappointing attendance at October’s MTV Campus Invasion tour, which featured R&B artists Wyclef Jean, the Black-Eyed Peas and De La Soul. CAB Concerts took a loss of $40,000 to $50,000 on the concert, Brady said.

“It really hindered what we could do,” he said. “There probably wouldn’t be any major concerts this semester (without the money).”

The lifeline comes from the Student Association’s portion of the budget called supplemental funding. Money that student organizations don’t use during the fiscal year is placed into a fund the following year. While that amount usually hovers around $60,000, SA Treasurer Troy Caldwell announced at the outset of his report Sunday that about $191,000 was in the account.

“We need to try to allocate that money to student groups in emergency situations,” he said.

Sunday’s recipients also included the Northern Black Choir, which received $1,094.18 to replace worn-down musical instruments needed for future performances.

Brady, also a student senator, told the senate he sent out three offers to various musical acts, whose names he would not divulge. But he eliminated the possibility of another large concert at Chick Evans Field House this spring. Instead, Brady expects CAB will sponsor a few ballroom-sized shows.

The $80,000 spent on the MTV tour, hosted at the fieldhouse, opened Brady’s eyes to the costs of a large show. And while both he and Caldwell said the broader range of the MTV acts was positive, October’s lackluster ticket sales ultimately led to trouble.

“Doing another huge show in the fieldhouse needs to be a little more thought out,” Brady said.

Caldwell reminded student groups looking for similar relief from emergency situations that certain qualifications must be met. Organizations cannot have underbudgeted during the last fiscal year, and emergency money only applies to dire needs.

Despite the appeal of excess money in the budget, Caldwell looks to bring the supplemental fund back down to its budgeted range for the next fiscal year, which starts in July. Otherwise, state budgetary reviews may look unkindly at excess funds being put toward general use, he said.

In other Student Senate business:

* Stephen Kulovits was nominated and approved as director of Greek affairs. The Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity member and Interfraternity Council vice president of administration said he will focus on bridging gaps between various Greek organizations on campus.

Future activities include increasing community service activities performed by Greek organizations and organizing a Greek Appreciation Day at a future men’s basketball game.

* Felicia Gooch was approved unanimously as Student Association elections commissioner. Her duties will include overseeing the elections later this semester. A board of elections should be appointed within the next few senate meetings.

* Following state guidelines, senators passed a constitutional amendment making the NIU student trustee a position to be voted on by the student body. Previous student trustees, including current trustee James Barr, were appointed by the SA president.

“There probably wouldn’t be any major concerts this semester (without the money).”

Mike Brady

Concert Coordinator