For weeks, I had been eagerly awaiting the Art Attack lineup from Student Entertainment Events. Each spring, SEE hosts a different performer for a concert at Byrd Stadium. Many colleges take their spring concerts very seriously, bringing their students artists such as Rick Ross, Tiësto and Avicii.

Art Attack should be a great opportunity for students to see popular artists on the campus while on a budget — if we could only bring popular artists. That’s why, with the announcement that indie rock band MGMT will headline Art Attack XXX May 3, I find myself once again disappointed in the selection — even if I’m not at all surprised.

Last year’s Art Attack was also mediocre, with The Dean’s List opening for the headlining pop-rapper B.o.B. While I knew a couple of B.o.B’s singles from the radio, I was unaware that he was even popular among the college community, and I surely had never listened to The Dean’s List.

It’s not that B.o.B. is untalented, but his music seemed very poppy and appealing only to a younger demographic. Instead of pursuing an artist popular with college kids, SEE made the safe pick with B.o.B., a clean-cut rapper who deals with “airplanes in the night sky” rather than more adult subjects.

So after last year’s questionable choice by SEE, I still had faith they could hook us up with a fun and popular performer this year. Other schools had set a high precedent, with artists such as Wiz Khalifa and Datsik coming to Towson and Penn State, respectively. Both of these artists are current, popular and worthy of being seen live. These are the types of performers I expect at Art Attack.

But these are not the type of artists SEE seems to like. Instead of choosing a rapper, like the two previous Art Attacks, or a DJ, such as 3LAU at the fall concert, SEE decided on alternative electronic band MGMT, with The Ready Set opening.

Initial reactions: “MGMT? Like, ‘Time to Pretend,’‘Electric Feel’ MGMT? Like, ‘popular my senior year of high school’ MGMT? Who is The Ready Set?”

Is MGMT really who college students want to see? Frankly, I had more or less forgotten about MGMT, as they haven’t had a hit since 2011. Why, then, does SEE feel that students will be interested in having them perform at Art Attack?

It seems that instead of choosing artists based on their popularity among college students, SEE selects the artist based on their “familiarity.” For example, both Nelly or B.o.B, while not necessarily popular among students, had a handful of chart-topping singles. With the guarantee that a majority of students had heard a song or two by Nelly and B.o.B, SEE can ensure that students will still attend the event, enticed by the low ticket price. This pattern is consistent with MGMT, whose 2010 album, Congratulations, received lots of airplay and featured some popular singles.

However, the band has been largely silent since then. This is why it’s hard for me to believe that SEE prioritizes student demand. Instead of booking acts popular among students, it seems SEE favors washed-up artists that will guarantee attendance. With other, smaller colleges providing students with hip and modern performers, I would expect this university, the largest school in the state, to also attract the big-name artists.

Domenic Bello is a sophomore enrolled in letters and sciences. He can be reached at dombello22@yahoo.com.