Fling will be 'wild,' heads say

It's going to be a "Wild" April if Spring Fling organizers have it their way. Every year, organizers have seach for a moniker to dub Fling that will excite students and bring interest to the annual fete. And after weeks of deliberations, this year's organizers have chosen the theme "The Wild Fling." Fling co-director Todd Fruchterman said last night that the decision was made by the three co-directors of the annual event with advice from the rest of the Spring Fling Committee. "We tossed some ideas around within the Spring Fling committee," said co-director Denise Rubin. She said that input was sought from friends of those on the committee, emphasizing that the committee regarded the decision as "not something which should be made on our own." Fruchterman said that the theme will be important for adding interest and excitement to the two-day party. "Hopefully, the theme will bring back a lot of the old spirit in Fling," he said. "We wanted to make sure that the theme would be able to attract a lot of people," said Rubin. And they said that they think they succeeded. "We feel it has abroad appeal," she added. She said that the officials were also aware that the theme may cause students to make inadvertent associations to the song "Wild Thing." The theme, officials said, is important because it generates interest in the weekend. "It can add cohesion and direction to how the weekend is going," Rubin said. "It can help to get people excited about the weekend." "This year, we've made a lot of structural changes in Fling," Fruchterman explained. "We hope that this year's theme will get some energy behind [the event.]" Fling officials last night declined to comment on what act which will headline this year's Fling, saying only that the process underway to choose the performer is "elaborate." Fruchterman said the decision will be announced on March 18, the Monday immediately following Spring Break. Rubin said that other preparations for the seasonal celebration are going well. She said that publicity soliciting performers for the weekend is getting started and the two-week sign-up period for the annual air band competition will begin next week in the Office of Student Life. She also said that the committee is hoping to arrange outdoor concerts at Hill Field for this year's events. Headline concerts for Fling have in recent years been held in Irvine Auditorium and the 1923 Hockey Rink. "A lot of stuff is really starting to happen," she said. "A lot of things are starting to get rolling."

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