University of Virginia Library

Smoke Signals

For those who remember the prevalent
feeling several years ago that the University
just never seemed able to contract first-rate
concerts, the shows scheduled for the next
several months should dispel the last vestiges
of cynicism toward PK-German. This
Saturday's sold out concert featuring Chicago
is a clear indication that Charlottesville has
gotten onto the maps of the omnipotent
agents of the entertainment world.

There has been some displeasure (to put it
mildly) that the concert this week is already
sold out. Despite the fact that this crowd is to
be the largest to attend a concert in
University Hall, there is still a considerable
gap between the number of seats available and
the throngs of people who want to get in.
(First basketball, now concerts: University
Hall is apparently becoming obsolete faster
than we had originally expected.)

The large crowd expected there Saturday
night (ca. 7,000) could pose some difficulties
for the sponsors if a large measure of personal
responsibility is not also present. Quite
frankly, there has been some concern about
the possibility of a "problem" with drugs.
While drugs may not fall into everyone's
personal definition of a "problem," the
concern expressed by PK-German and the
University Union is certainly justified in light
of opinions expressed in recent months by
some law enforcement agencies, officers, and
judges.

Smoking anything is illegal in University
Hall, and for safety reasons has never been
allowed-at least in principle. The ushers at the
upcoming concerts (who are all students and
members of Alpha Phi Omega Service
Fraternity) have been directed by PK-German
and the Union to enforce the no smoking
regulations quietly but firmly in an effort to
eliminate the need for selective enforcement
of only anti-marijuana laws. The following
statement, printed on each ticket, is a neat
encapsulation of the edict:

Because of the State Law which
prohibits the public drinking of
alcoholic beverages, spectators are not
permitted to bring containers for ice
or beverages into University Hall.
University Hall regulations prohibit
smoking in the auditorium. The
University Union reserves the right to
ask those persons in violation of
University regulations to leave the
premises.

Crowd control inside University Hall will be
entrusted to the ushers, an arrangement which
we find most commendable. Ushers, as
students, may feel personally sympathetic to
violations of any University Hall regulations,
out they will nevertheless be enforcing the
rules as pervasively and dispassionately as
possible.

That this arrangement is agreeable to the
Department of Security does not preclude the
presence of officers in the Hall, although
those who are present are not intended to
intimidate or "witch-hunt" for drugs. They
will be there as they are for all events as a last
resort should there be safety problems or
violations of the law.

If students are willing, as they should be, to
accept responsibility for themselves and
prevail upon others to do the same, both the
ushers and the officers will be able to relax
and enjoy a good concert.