Spring Fling to take place in 'Fairy Tale' land

Fling band will be 'alternative' The theme for Spring Fling, the University's annual pre-finals carnival, will be "Fee, Fie, Foe, Fling," directors said last night. According to Spring Fling Co-Director and Wharton senior Jared Miller, the theme's primary focus will be Jack and The Beanstalk, but souvenirs and decorations for the event may incorporate many fairy tales. In an attempt to introduce new elements to the carnival, the directors said theater arts groups will be decorating the Upper and Lower Quadrangle with fairy-tale decorations. "We're turning the Quad into a kind of fairy tale for the weekend," Miller said. A castle on the Quad's junior balcony and a huge beanstalk will add to the fairy-tale land, organizers said. Although they would not name or give details about the Fling band, for the first time in three years Fling's main concert will be performed outside, the directors said. But Ferris did hint that of the multiple bands expected to perform at Fling, the feature bands will be alternative or rock. Three years ago when Living Color was scheduled to play outdoors, the concert was cancelled due to rain. Because the stage was not covered, there were "technical and legal" concerns about the equipment as well as for the band, Fling Co-Director and College senior John Ferris said. To combat the problem, this year a tent will cover the stage -- which will be set up on Hill Field. "Even if it rains, hopefully, the show will go on," Fling Co-Director and Wharton junior Gilbert Beverly said. The directors said that securing a band is their biggest challenge. But they added that they attribute difficulty to factors beyond their control. "It's hard because people perceive that people doing this are dumb or don't know what people want or they're not trying hard enough," Beverly said. "But that isn't the case at all." The University's urban location places it in a competitive financial market, he added. If big-name bands want to come to Philadelphia, they have the option to play several large arenas which will ensure a better profit and wider audience. "In contrast, at a school like Lehigh in the middle of bumble PA, a band can go there and get an audience they couldn't get here," Beverly added. "This is the best we can do other than offering our first-born to Eddie Vedder." Although Fling traditionally takes place on Friday and Saturday, this year it will be held on Saturday April 22 and Sunday April 23, directors said. The change was made to accommodate students who celebrate Passover. Although the first day of Fling does conflict with the Jewish holiday, the Fling committee is making a "special effort" to get a kosher food vendor. In addition to the outdoor concert, this year's Fling committee plans to introduce several other new events. As part of the pre-finals celebration, the final round of a two-week volleyball tournament will take place in the Upper Quad. And an additional volleyball court will be set up for recreation. The tournament, sponsored by Evian, will start in late March and be open to all students. Beverly also said he is working with the owner of Cavanaugh's Bar and Restaurant to organize a buffalo wing eating contest. "I'm toying with the idea that you can't use your hands," he added. While some students might discover how much food and drink they can consume at Spring Fling, if the directors' plans succeed students might also be able to see how much pain they can withstand -- because in addition to vendors, rides and games, this year's carnival will offer body piercing.