What Do Marist Students Think: Governors Ball Music Festival
Some Marist students think it’s too soon for music festivals and others are ready to buy their tickets
With The Governors Ball Music Festival happening in September, some Marist students think it's a little too soon and others are ready to buy their tickets. Source: Amanda Dibre '23
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Governors Ball Music Festival in New York City was cancelled in 2020, but the performing line-up for 2021 has just been announced, along with their event's new location — Citi Field in Queens. Some Marist College students think it might be too soon for people to gather in crowds like that again, but others are ready to buy their tickets.
“It’s the opportunity for people to share and partake in art and community,” said Orla Haughey ‘22. “It’s a celebration of the human spirit.”
Since 2011, this 3-day event has brought together hundreds of people to celebrate pop music from top artists. After being pushed back from the traditional first weekend in June, Governors Ball is planned to happen September 24-26.
Olivia Dire ‘23 is planning on purchasing her ticket soon. “I would 150% go,” Dire said. “I think we have been sheltered-up way too long and I think this would be one of the great ways to get everyone out and socializing again and back to normal life.”
On the other hand, some are not as eager. “I’ve always wanted to go but I feel like this is not the year I’m going to do it,” said Jenny Bradford ‘21.
Similarly, Kelsey McCullough ‘23 said, “I would be a little nervous to go this year. I think it’s still a little too early. Even though people are getting vaccinated, I don’t know how safe it would be to get everyone together in one area like that. I think it should be pushed back even more, maybe to 2022.”
However, her friend disagreed. “I would definitely go. I think that in September the majority of people will be vaccinated,” said Daniela Lerga. “I think that a lot of colleges are requiring their students to be fully vaccinated when they come back in the fall and a majority of the people that go to the festival are college students, so most of the people there would be vaccinated. I would feel totally safe going.”
With artists like Billie Eilish, A$AP Rocky and Post Malone, tickets are selling out fast. However, according to the Governors Ball website, it has not been decided yet what may or may not be required come show day.
There are a couple thousand new cases in New York every day, making COVID-19 a present risk. However, most people agreed that it’s time to start living again.
“We’ve been scared of this virus for awhile and with the vaccines coming out I think this is a time where we should all at least make an effort to try to be outside,” Declan Leonard ‘24 said. “This will definitely show, like, hey we are strong and we’re getting through this.”
Haughey thinks that this music festival could actually be a good thing. “I think it kind of serves as a goal for people to have and look forward to to help them comply with a lot of the rules and regulations that we have right now. It’s a reminder that this is not going to last forever.”
Although sophomore Shea Thomson said, “I would 100% go this year,” she still thinks people should be required to show proof of vaccination in order to attend. Bradford and Haughey also expressed that vaccination should be mandatory for attendees, while Dire, McCullough and Lerga felt that masks were sufficient.
All in all, Marist students are ready to get back out to the festival scene. After over a year of Covid-19, people are eager for a taste of normalcy. Although some might disagree on if it’s just a little too soon and whether the vaccine should be required for attendance, Governors Ball Music Festival offers a slice of hope and excitement of what once was, to both those going and staying home.