Math and economics junior Dan Moody again criticized the Programming and Activities Board on Tuesday, this time for spending $15,000 on the Punk Voter Tour concert.
The concert was held at the Marquee Theatre on Friday.
"Their responsibilities are to organize campus events," Moody said. "That's a lot of money for a one-sided political event."
The Punk Voter Tour, also known as the "Rock Against Bush Tour," was originally scheduled to take place on campus, but the Student Recreation Complex revoked the board's permit on March 30. The PAB then purchased 600 tickets at $25 each so students could get in free.
PAB Vice President John Ronquillo defended the actions of the board, at the Undergraduate Student Government Senate meeting.
"Our intentions were [to get] NOFX and Alkaline Trio," Ronquillo said. "It's not like we sat behind closed doors and conspired to overthrow President Bush."
Mike Kosak, a public programs senator, said he applauded PAB for getting the concert, despite the circumstances.
"I believe what they did was in the spirit of the constitution," he said. "They had to have a spring event."
Christina Corieri, chairwoman of the College Republicans, said later that she thought student government as a whole is supposed to be nonpartisan.
"This is clearly a partisan event," Corieri said. "A large portion of student money was being funded for an anti-candidate event."
She added that the College Republicans did not approach the PAB to buy tickets for students to see conservative speaker Sean Hannity.
During the senate meeting, Ronquillo said he didn't think there would be much of a response to a conservative event. He added that similar speakers have been brought to ASU in the past and political events are common on campus.
Corieri disagreed.
"ASU signed up the most Bush supporters than anyone in the nation," she said.
Bringing speakers is one thing, but this was done under the guise of a concert, she said.
Reach the reporter at lindsay.butler@asu.edu.
