Thousands of students gathered on Tuesday to enjoy a night of music and fun for the Fall Welcome Concert that featured singers Jason Derulo and Lupe Fiasco.
The event, hosted by the ASU Programming and Activities Board, had the potential of being a success, especially with big names like Derulo and Fiasco.
Unfortunately, the poor organization and communication on behalf of the PAB staff and the rowdy behavior of ASU students made the event more of a ‘fiasco’ (pun intended).
Journalism student Elizabeth Witt stood in line with her husband for two and a half hours to attend the concert. At 8 PM, the doors did not open. When they finally did “madness ensued,” she said.
Witt was told after 10 minutes that the doors were closing because no more tickets were available. Shortly after, the doors opened again only to be closed. She was told the same thing again. No more tickets were available.
When she finally got to the door, people were screaming, pushing and pounding on the doors. She was pulled through the door by security but her husband was unable to get through the door.
“I was crying and I kept telling (security) ‘I am not going without my husband,’” said Witt.
When they finally got through the door, she had a bleeding scratch on her arm and her toenail had been ripped off.
PAB staff recognized that every event has the potential to improve.
“We are taking all constructive criticisms seriously and using them to improve our processes,” said PAB Live Entertainment Director Rachel Hill in an email.
While some of the chaos fell squarely on the security and PAB staff, ASU students are not exempt from making the concert less than desirable.
Some students pounded on the glass doors in hope of breaking it while others coerced students on the inside to open the doors. Once the doors were open, a mob of students stampeded past struggling security guards.
These conditions and incidents posed a serious risk to the health of ASU students and made the concert generally unpleasant, especially for students like me who simply wanted to enjoy a good concert. In anticipation for other large events, everyone should keep these tidbits in mind.
Communication is key. Much of the chaos could have been avoided if PAB staff used a megaphone to attend to students’ questions.
Anger is no way to get what you want. Those who pounded on glass doors, pushed and shoved fellow students and brigaded past security are only subjecting themselves and others to injuries and irritation.
Think big. When planning a big name event, staff should anticipate large numbers and make appropriate accommodations. Many students enjoy the luxury of inviting a guest, but maybe that shouldn’t be an option for high-capacity events.
The PAB staff should also allow students to pick up tickets at their dorms or print them out online so they can anticipate attendance and avoid the wait at the door.
Many other measures could have been taken to ensure a safe, entertaining and fun event. For those who survived the chaos, I felt that Lupe Fiasco put on a great performance.
Unfortunately, many students were not so lucky. PAB and students alike should step up their act so the remainder of the school year will be fun and safe.
Send your concert horror stories to Emilie at eeeaton@asu.edu.
