Bobcat Nights vs. BAVAFest

And the winner is: BAVAFest. Or is it Bobcat Nights?

According to Eddie Howard, director of student activities, both events combined cost too much money and one must go.

With budget talks heating up around campus, student activities will need to make a decision by August.

Students will have the chance to vote next week, during the SGA elections, on which event they would like to see continue at Georgia College & State University. The elections will take place April 17 and April 18.

“There are the two programs. Both of them are good programs, there is no plus or minus on them, but the fact remains that we can’t afford both of them,” said Howard. “If we had money to do both, I would want to do both of them but we don’t have the money.”

Bobcat Nights currently receives $30,000 a year from GC&SU’s budget. The money covers all expenses for the 12 events throughout the year. BAVAFest costs $50,000-$70,000 for the one event held in April each year, with the price varying from $20,000, depending on the headline group or singer.

“I see it in one or two ways. Either we are going to have Bobcat Nights or Bava, or we are going to have Bobcat Nights with a small Bava,” said Howard. “We need to find out what the students want. I think people are going to want both, but we can’t afford both.”

Howard did not rule out the possibility of students having an open discussion to discuss which event students would like to keep.

“People shouldn’t vote thinking that whatever they vote on is what’s going to happen,” said Howard. “If this comes down to simple choices or finances and we can’t tend to do one, then we can say okay, now let’s figure out what to do with our money.”

With the completion of the new GC&SU intramural complex less than a
year a way, GC&SU will have the opportunity to save some money and while having Bava on the complex.

“I think that students need to consider the real information. The fact of the matter is that the average Bava concert is ranged from $50,000 through $70,000; I’m not sure why we couldn’t put on a $30,000 Bava (have it be a smaller scale) and save Bobcat Nights,” said Suzette Zompetti, assistant director of student activities. “Bobcat Nights’ total operating budget is only $30,000. Last years’ BAVAFest cost $70,000 and brought in 500 to 600 people, while Bobcat Nights has already brought in 752 students this semester alone.”

Three years ago 2,200 people participated in Bavafest, when Run DMC headlined the event. Last year, Edward McCain headlined Bava and drew in just 500 people, with rainy conditions playing a role in the attendance numbers.

According to a recent poll given by CAB, 70 percent of students, overall, feel that the activities offered were either excellent or good.

“We would get more events out of Bobcat Nights. There will be a bigger scale of variety for the events, while being able to put on six events a semester, which is not bad,” said Howard. “Bobcat Nights will give you more bang for your buck.”

Students still like the fact of being able to have a big concert hosted by their college.

“I would vote for BAVAFest because I like listening to music,” said Chris Lockard, sophomore accounting major.

According to the same poll given by CAB, 98.2 percent of GC&SU students who attended a Bobcat Night enjoyed it.

“People really need to consider what they are getting for the money they are putting in,” said Zompetti. “Bava’s great, I love it every year, but I think that you could do a big spring concert, like the first Bava, and still keep Bobcat Nights.”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Apr 10 2003. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry