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The band My Chemical Romance is paying the University of Maine’s Student Government over $20,500 in restitution. The costs were incurred when the band cancelled a show they were to play at UMaine on Oct. 27.
“It sort of came as a surprise that they agreed to do it, but at the same time we’re really pleased that they understood the situation and were so quick to agree,” Derek Mitchell, the vice president of student entertainment, said.
After ten days of silence, the band’s manager sent an e-mail Tuesday night stating they would pay all costs. “To get that e-mail from him was great. We were all pretty excited in senate last night,” Mitchell said.
Student Government (SG) sent two letters demanding compensation for costs incurred through advertising and outside contractors.
SG gave the band two weeks – until Nov. 12 – to pay all expenses incurred before they planned to pursue legal action.
“We are very happy we didn’t have to proceed further,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell had said he would be hesitant to work with the band’s management again. Now that they have agreed to pay restitution, Mitchell changed his mind. “We’re open to working with them again.”
This incident has inspired SG to rework their contracts with bands in the future. “It was absolutely a learning experience for us and other schools that we work with,” he said.
“I understand that students are angry, that they think that their money is being wasted and a lot of students want to see them get their money back,” said Tom Grucza, the station manager for WMEB.
“You really want to stop bands from taking advantage of you, especially when you’re dealing with student money,” Mitchell said.
If SG had not recuperated the money, it would have cost more than $2 from each student’s activity fee.
“To let it go out in smoke would have been incredibly irresponsible of us,” Mitchell said.
The band canceled when drummer Bob Bryar sustained an injury to his hand. The band played a show the day after the UMaine show was scheduled but used a backup drummer. “Why didn’t you bring that back-up drummer to Orono?” Mitchell asked.
Breyer will not go to Europe for an MTV award show when My Chemical Romance performs.
“We’re confident that the band’s management is serious, that they do want to make this right,” Mitchell said, not foreseeing any further issues. “We’ve made amends; we’ve resolved the situation.”
Mitchell was given notice that the band would send the check on Thursday.
“We’re just finalizing everything. I think it is great what we’ve done,” Vice President of the student body, Steven Moran, said. “I’m really glad we got it back.”
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