EDITORIAL: A good idea, poorly executed

The huge turnout for Skimmer was more than the event's organizers were prepared to handle. But poor planning hampered the execution of a generally good idea. The event just wasn't equipped to handle what police estimated was a crowd of 5,000. Most detrimental was the inadequate transportation. There weren't enough buses running between campus and the river. And many students who made their own way to the event, by taking cabs or walking, were misled by vague directions -- tents were set up closer to Temple University's boathouse than to the proclaimed Boathouse Row. The food supply was also low. Once at the river, students found they had to fight for a ration of free pizza and soda. And with weak bands and no regatta to watch, students wandered around without much to do. Still, the event's organizers shouldn't be discouraged. Skimmer demonstrated that there is interest in a pre-Fling outdoor event. Rather than abandon the idea in future years, class boards and the Undergraduate Assembly should examine the problems that occurred this year and look toward ways to accommodate more students.