The ASPC Senate voted 6 to 3 Tuesday to allow senators to reserve up to two tickets for the April 6 Ben Harper concert at Big Bridges. The decision came after Senate voted to purchase 400 pre-sale tickets for Pomona students to buy. Senators will have to purchase the tickets at full price, but will not have to stand in line for tickets like other students.

"I introduced the idea to Senate as something that CMC’s Senate has done when having concerts in the past," Vice-President Ellen Lin ’01 said. Lin was chairing the meeting in the absence of ASPC President Brian Andrews, who was out of town.

Though the motion to reserve seats for senators passed by a two to one margin, a heated debate took place at the meeting over the issue.

Mikey Gaertner Students spent the night in Edmunds Ballroom to purchase Harper tickets.

"Some people were very opposed to giving senators priority seats," Community Affairs Commissioner Leslie Mallman ’01 said. "I didn’t think it was that big of a deal, seats at a concert is a pretty petty issue. Senators do all kinds of work with no compensation. Still, I didn’t personally reserve any tickets because I didn’t want there to be controversy."

Sports Commissioner Nick Grudin ’01, Commissioner of Environmental Affairs Pam Grewal ’03, Freshman Class Senator Mike Rush, and Communications Commissioner Harry Ou ’01 agreed that the perk was appropriate for senators due to their hard work without compensation throughout the year.

Two senators who opposed the motion, Junior Represenative Jake Oken-Berg ’02 and Academic Affairs Commissioner Richard Sun ’01, argued that the position of senator is a privilege in and of itself.

"In addition to getting a great overall experience, we get a free retreat and a free tee-shirt," Sun said. "I didn’t think it was appropriate to get additional privileges."

Though he voted against the motion, Oken-Berg stated that the issue was not a big deal. "Being a senator is its own reward, but this isn’t an unprecedented perk," he said. "But it hasn’t been an expectation for Pomona senators in the past, and I don’t think it should start to be one."

Reaction from students standing in line for tickets the night before they went on sale was mixed as well.

"It’s an abuse," Kevin MacInnes ‘03 said, "a gross abuse of power."

"What would Ben Harper say?" Mike Chin ‘03 asked. "You are forgiven. But you’re [expletive]. Fo’sheezy."

Others disagreed.

"I think one ticket per senator seems fair," Sarah Myers ‘04 said.

"Personally, I think that kicks ass. If I were on the Senate that’s what I would do," Samir Vora ’03 said.

Senators were planning to help organize the student ticket line on the morning of ticket sales when TSL went to press. Tickets were to be sold for $20 with a Pomona College ID, with a limit of two tickets per person.