SPEC activities go far beyond Spring Fling

For the next month, the Social Planning and Events Committee will be busy planning and publicizing Spring Fling weekend. But SPEC does much more than simply organize Fling. From a crafts fair on Locust Walk and Asian Pacific American Heritage Week to lunchtime concerts in the Hall of Flags and Irvine Auditorium movie showings, SPEC's 10 committees plan a variety of events throughout the year. According to SPEC President Mosi Bennett, a College junior, the organization was founded six years ago as an alternative to the alcohol-based Greek social scene. "SPEC provides low-cost, non-alcoholic social programs for the Penn community," said College senior Gil Beverly, who serves as co-director of the SPEC Spring Fling Committee, as well as being the Undergraduate Assembly vice chairperson. "We are the social planning arm of student government." Bennett, who became involved with SPEC when he was the UA's liaison to the organization during his sophomore year, said that most students do not realize everything that SPEC encompasses. "Most students can't name all our committees or don't know that the committees are associated with SPEC," he explained. Most students know that SPEC organizes Fling because its Spring Fling and Concerts Committees collaborate to bring a major band to campus each year, according to Mike Parker, a College senior and Concerts Committee co-director. Beverly, who has been co-director of Spring Fling since his sophomore year, said he enjoys planning the event and seeing everything come together. "I've never seen anything so huge with so many people having so much fun," Beverly said. In addition to the main concert during Fling, the Concerts Committee also brings musical groups to Irvine Auditorium and holds lunch hour concerts in the Hall of Flags, according to Wharton sophomore Allison Rosen, who will be co-director of the committee next year. "SPEC Concerts is neat because you can choose your level of involvement," Parker said. "There are some of us with definite interest in going into the music industry, and others who just want to help choose the bands or set up the sound." Most recently, Connaissance, which used to be under the auspices of the Student Activities Council, joined SPEC as its 10th committee. Connaissance works to bring speakers like Vice President Al Gore and film director Oliver Stone to campus. "SPEC gives us the flexibility we need when we bring lectures to campus," Connaissance co-Director Rich Archer said. "It is easier to get contracts signed, agents called and money transferred than it was when we were working with the SAC Finance Committee." Archer, a Wharton junior who has been involved with Connaissance since his sophomore year, said he enjoys the atmosphere SPEC creates. "With SAC, everything was very removed, but SPEC is a tightly knit family," he said. "I love how relaxed SPEC is because it makes being part of my club more fun." The group's other committees demonstrate the diversity of SPEC's activities and programming. SPEC's Crafts Fair Committee organizes fairs where students can buy jewelry, pottery, candles and artwork on Locust Walk, according to the committee's director, College junior Ilene Epstein. "It is a unique opportunity to explore my interests and get to know artisans," she said. The Penn Film Society, which shows cult, classic and popular movies on Thursday and Friday nights, is also part of SPEC. And the SPEC Special Events Committee brings comedians and hypnotists to campus, while also planning a variety of other programs. SPECTRUM, the branch of SPEC which plans minority activities, co-sponsors events such as Asian Pacific American Heritage Week, Festival Latino and events in coordination with Black History Month. Penn Jazz, SPEC Sound and Student Art Gallery also contribute to SPEC's year-round presence at the University.

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