The upcoming Ziggy Marley show Saturday is a triumph for students in their quest for a suitable spring activity. With the show now in McAndrew Stadium, the potential success of this event could help secure future Spring Thing events for years to come. The key word is success. Jean Paratore, assistant vice chancellor for Student Affairs, said the administration is taking a wait-and-see attitude toward the concert.

After months of planning and speculation, it was announced March 29 that Ziggy Marley was indeed booked to do a free show here at SIUC. The inclusion of such a mainstream act was what this newspaper believed was needed for this event to be a success. When it was announced later that the show was being moved to a larger venue, it was further evidence of the expected turnout to support the event. With all the debate as to what the Spring Thing could include, it seemed the only thing it needs is a good band. If this show is a success who knows how this Spring Thing could evolve.

Student Programming Council has pulled through for the students in a semester that has been void of any significant activities. There have not been any high-profile popular musical acts in either the Arena or Shryock Auditorium.

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One of the reasons that it has been so difficult for SPC to plan any events has been its lack of support. The University has displayed, through their lack of involvement in both promoting and supporting campus events, that they have little faith in the student body’s ability to have events where no negative incidents occur. With SIUC’s lingering history as a party school it can understandably be hard for school officials to sanction events with our Halloween and Spring Fest skeletons in the closet.

Success lies on the heads of both the University and students. University officials expect about 20,000 people to attend the show. The more that turn out, the more difficult it will be for the University to balk at future events being established. There will be 41 police and Saluki Patrol providing security at the concert.

The only thing the police need to do is provide security, not see how many arrests can be made. Keep the concertgoers in control, make sure students abide by pre-established rules, but do not go on a mission to see how many students they can bust. However, this is not the sole responsibility of the police.

Students need to have a certain amount of restraint and not give the police any reason to bust them. In other words follow the rules. Leave the alcohol and contraband at home and just have a good time. The Ziggy Marley show is going to be a litmus test for the University to gauge the possibility of future events, so students need to make sure that they do not do anything to mess it up.

Many students have stressed in the past that there is not much to do on campus or in Carbondale. This issue needs to be worked on, but it requires the cooperation of all. Perhaps if Ziggy Marley goes over well, it will lead to more future events. Go out enjoy the show and behave.