Hundreds kept out of Woodstock 2006
STUDENTS HAVE voiced displeasure at the University’s re-location of Woodstock 2006 as event capacity was limited by security restrictions.
The annual end of term event, which is held by the Student’s Union RAG committee for charity, was forced by University officials to move from the spacious green lands of Vanbrugh Bowl to Vanbrugh Paradise, as a way of expanding the licensed bar area. The move comes after the University announced a loss at last year’s event after providing free security throughout.
Halifax student Thomas Fernyhough described the new system as “ridiculous” saying “Woodstock is dead, long live Woodstock”. However, the day was defended by current Services and Finance Officer, Nat-Thwaites McGowan, who stated “the University has no legal obligation to provide security…it is unfair to expect them to make a loss”. Although he added that he would push incoming Services officer Amy Woods to get large sponsorship for next year so the SU could afford to provide their own security.
Capacity originally stated as 1200 was increased to 1450 as it became apparent to security staff that student demand was above original expectations. Hundreds of students were left to queue for hours for the chance watch live acts including Battle of the Band winners Conceptual Misfire and campus celebrities Fenna Rhodes and the True Ingredients.
Meanwhile an eventful twelve-hour day saw a total of eighteen acts play on the main stage with flame jugglers and a student diving into the lake; emerging with a discarded bicycle as two of the many side-attractions.
The total money raised at is still to be announced. Jaimal Shah, Student Development and Charities Officer said that he felt “the event went very well”, and defended the decision to run Woodstock at Vanbrugh Paradise as “its such a big event to organise” and the decision to move the event “was not in our control”.
Thomas Fernyhough
did not give permission to quote me. Do you need it?
Anyway, I enjoyed Woodstock, however it was tinted with a nasty taste of corporate greed. What annoyed me most along with the money grapping university and the licensed area was the fact I could not see the bands as the stage was too low, I know there are numerous logistical and safety problems with higher stages (rigging needs to be higher so does the marquee) but its a shame I could not see them, True Ingredients I think I saw a bit of a leg in the air.
Well done to the technical team they did it for free and spent many many hours on this project.
After waiting in the queue for an hour and a half to see Fenna Rodes and having their set cut short, maybe my comments where written in the heat of the night, but they did it so well last year seems a shame not to do it as well.
One last word, well done all the bands and well done Kate for organising something you had so much trouble with, its very hard when you are up against a large organisation like York University.