Open City office manager, John Martin, will meet soon with Wayne State University officials in an attempt to re-schedule free concerts on the campus Mall.
Wayne State Public Safety Director, William McDaniels, cancelled the concerts because of alleged “sexual intercourse taking place throughout the Mall.”
In a report which was presented to the sponsors of the concerts, Hopfinger listed sexual intercourse and 11 other reasons for cancellation ranging from parking problems to drugs.
The concerts were held on June 12-13 and June 19-20 and were scheduled to be continued all summer.
A crowd of 400 attended the last concert. As the final band, Ozone, hit a driving climax, a group of people shook together furiously til they fell to the ground, exhausted. The University closed the Mall at midnight.
The police report states that, “vast amounts of alcoholic beverages were consumed. There was much evidence of marijuana smoking, hashish and some were high on pills. Groups of people were huddled under blankets apparently engaging in sexual intercourse.”
The crowd at the first concert was small but attendance grew at each successive event as the word spread. People had raps, good vibes and Boone’s Farm wine to warm up the chilly night air. The bands were not famous names. They were sometimes inept, but always enthusiastic local groups.
Maybe it was the weather, but the crowd was calm. Instead of chanting along with the bands or dancing, they just stood around and rapped in small groups. A freshman at Wayne and his girlfriend, who is a waitress, were leaving Detroit the next day and were wandering around talking about their plans quietly and exchanging goodbyes.
The police report concluded “the event is unpoliceable and with the threat of increased attendance, the potential for trouble will arise.”
Wayne’s Mall is no Woodstock. It is a thousand square yards of concrete and lampposts. Because of nearby factories there is a constant stench. But it is a place a lot of people found comfortable in the middle of the city.