EDITORIAL

After last year’s Spring Fling, most students were probably expecting the same dreary event that seemed to be more of a hassle when it came to getting to class, than an opportunity to relax and have a good time before finals begin.

This year, however, came off with much more success than the previous two years and a lot of that had to do with the weather. Clear skies and a warm, but comfortable temperature attracted just as many students as the booths and games did. Perhaps this is the first time in the long while when Temple’s Spring Fling wasn’t a total joke.

We had a stage at the Bell Tower that featured local bands, some of whom have played on campus before and are known by the students. But what about the days when Temple could attract nationally known bands like Belly?

Temple is a major university in a highly populated city, yet we can’t book well-known bands to play here. Penn State main campus is set in the middle of Central Pennsylvania surrounded by farmland and at their Blue and White week, which is the equivalent to our Spring Fling, managed to get Our Lady Peace and Run DMC. In the past, they’ve had bands like Ben Folds Five, Letters to Cleo and Reel Big Fish and still have local bands play on the side stage.

The consensus among most students is that Spring Fling leaves a lot to be desired. Aside from the “mocktails” and funnel cake stands, there were only two food vendors – one selling chicken kabobs with drippy sauce and the other selling sausages and hamburgers. The lines for these vendors were so long; it was easier to walk across campus to the food trucks.

The point is, Spring Fling is supposed to be fun. It should offer more than half a block of booths and stalls and it should take more than fifteen minutes to walk around and see what is going on. Students don’t come to Temple for the nightlife or for the multitude of activities. This is one of the few times both commuter and residential students can enjoy the day together.
One problem is that it takes place when many students are in class. Those who don’t skip find that the noise distracts them and takes away from the learning experience. Those who do skip try their best to elbow their way through crowds trying to avoid having a drink spilled on them.

There was a lot of space along Park Mall that wasn’t completely utilized. With more space and more things to do and see, Spring Fling could be more than an impossible walk down 13th Street.