Students at
the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) voiced their displeasure today
(Feb. 13), when school officials announced that an upcoming concert featuring
rappers Busta Rhymes and Jim Jones was canceled, after school officials viewed
a Maryland State Police intelligence report. UMES
spokeswoman Suzanne Street said students were notified in a meeting in the UMES
Student Services Center that they canceled the concert, after viewing the undisclosed
report on the rappers, who were scheduled to perform Feb. 21 at the Ella Fitzgerald
Performing Arts Center. "We
pay an activity fee every year, and every year it becomes more and more that the
administrators try and take from us," Mauresha Spencer, Student Government
President told local ABC Channel 47. "Now we’re tired of it, not gonna stand
anymore. It’s our money and it’s our choice, we believe."Over
700 people already paid $20-$35 for the show, which was also to include performances
by Monica, Baby Cham and DJ Nix. A
meeting will be held tomorrow (Feb. 14) between students and school officials
to discuss the contents of the police report, the possibility of rescheduling
another concert and how refunds will be given to those who have already purchased
tickets.Police
accuse Busta Rhymes of refusing to cooperate in the murder investigation of his
slain bodyguard, 29-year-old Israel Ramirez. Rhymes
was among several potential witnesses that police believe saw Ramirez’ slaying,
which took place in front of a Brooklyn warehouse, while Rhymes was shooting the
video for his "Touch It" single.Authorities
believe an argument between Swizz Beatz and Tony Yayo moved to the street. “There
was some pushing and shoving going on when an individual took out a gun and fired
at least eight shots,” said NYPD Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly after
the shooting. Both
Busta Rhymes and Tony Yayo have denied involvement in the shooting."I
didn’t contribute to that negative (in any) shape or form," Busta Rhymes
told MTV UK. "What I did, I offered my man an opportunity to make money to
provide food on the table for his family. We were in a work environment which
was supposed to be a controlled environment, a place where we were supposed to
be productive. We had children on the set. The environment was a completely positive
environment."