Fling events

After weeks of preparation, the coordinators of Spring Fling will finally get their chance to prove that Stranger Flings Have Happened. If the weather cooperates, this year's Spring Fling -- sponsored by the Social Planning and Events Committee -- will have dozens of activities occurring simultaneously across campus. Today's weather should be a beautiful 80 degrees with bright sunshine. But, according to Accuweather, "showers and a thunderstorm, including a heavy downpour," are expected for tomorrow. The three major locations for activities this weekend are Superblock, Upper Quad and Lower Quad. All three areas will have stages for musical entertainment. In addition, the Lower Quad will have food tents, the Upper Quad will have entertainment and giveaway tents and Superblock will have carnival activities. Yesterday on Locust Walk, the SPEC Crafts Fair kicked off Fling's activities. The fair will continue again today from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Quad festivities will begin at 11 a.m. today with Penn Jazz and the Altunis Morton Schwartz Experience performing in the Upper and Lower Quad areas, respectively. Throughout the day today and tomorrow, the Quad will be home to a variety of other musical events. Outside performers will include Ma's Left Leg, Toxic Field Mice, Synapse and Spiral Blue. SPEC Spring Fling Committee co-Director Gil Beverly said this year's bands should be "the best bands to ever be at Fling." But students especially look forward to the University's own musical groups, a plethora of which will perform throughout the weekend. The first group to preform will be Penn Jazz , and according to tradition, the last group will be perennial favorite Mask & Wig at 5:15 p.m. tomorrow in the Lower Quad. In between, there will be performances by Penny Loafers, Chord on Blues, Off the Beat, Arts House Dance, Pennchants, Bloomers, Penn Pipers and Quaker Notes. To satisfy those intense munchies, the Lower Quad will also house many food vendors, including Kiss Food Services -- which Beverly said serves slushies and ice cream -- Elliot's Amazing Drinks, Billybob's and Monroe's Ribs. Monroe's Ribs is owned by two University alumni who do not own a restaurant business -- they only serve food during Spring Fling so they can return to campus and enjoy the atmosphere. For a bit of goofy fun, the Upper Quad will be the place to visit. There will be several entertainment and giveaway booths, including free palm and tarot card readers, "moon bounce" boxing and even a game of whip cream Twister sponsored by the Malasian Club. And if you feel lucky, enter Kaplan Testing's big raffle -- the grand prize being a day of driving a brand new yellow Corvette which will be featured in the Quad throughout the weekend. Finally, Milton Bradley, WDRE radio station and a new game called Triangle Ball will provide some exciting surprises for everyone to enjoy. Superblock is the place to be tonight, with five big bands, a lip synch contest and lots of carnival games and rides. And tomorrow night, almost 5,000 screaming fans will pack the Palestra for the grand finale of Fling '94 -- the Cypress Hill concert, with special guests Mudhoney, Run DMC and G. Love & Special Sauce. "The concert is selling extraordinarily well," Beverly said. "It isn't quite a sell-out, but it's pretty good -- in the Palestra, [5,000 people] will be more than enough to make noise." As usual, no alcohol will be allowed at any Spring Fling event. "I hope people enjoy themselves responsibly," said Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta. "In my heart I feel that people can have a good time without being out of control and without being inebriated." Fling is that one time of year when all University students can throw down their books for a weekend before starting to worry about final exams. Let's enjoy it. We all deserve it.