The sophomore class is sponsorin the annual day on the Schuylkill River, back for a third year in a row. The band and a cappella groups are ready, the food is ordered, the dunk tank is reserved -- all that's left for this year's Skimmer organizers to do is to pray for sun. Skimmer, an annual spring event that occurs off the banks of the Schuylkill River, will take place on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. on West River Drive. The attendance rate for Skimmer has varied over the last two years, since it was reinstated on campus after a 20-year hiatus. But this year's sponsor, the Sophomore Class Board, is determined to attract a large but manageable number of students to the event. "We're hoping for about 1,500 to 2,000 people," said Sophomore Class President Alex Tolbert. Although Penn's crew team will not be having a regatta on Saturday, Skimmer will boast a series of concerts, free food and even Brother Stephen White -- a widely known campus evangelist -- in a dunk tank, said Tolbert, a Wharton sophomore. "I think the focus of this year's Skimmer is to have a lot of entertainment there," said Wharton sophomore Dana Becker, secretary for the Sophomore Class Board. "We want to make it a fun afternoon that will engage a lot of the population." The headlining band will be the Philadelphia-based group Burnt Sienna, who will play a "wide range of popular covers," according to Tolbert. In addition, other performers for Skimmer will include Penn a cappella groups Counterparts, Penny Loafers and Dischord. Buses will be leaving the Upper Quad Gate every 15-to-20 minutes to transport Penn students to Skimmer. Skimmer was wildly popular among Penn students until 1972, when the University and the City of Philadelphia banned the event due to reckless, alcohol-related behavior. But two years ago, the Senior Class Board decided to bring Skimmer back as part of the Penn experience and, so far, the results have been mixed. In 1998, the 5,000 students that came to the banks of the river devoured the free food and pushed and shoved their way onto a limited number of buses. But last year, Skimmer's turnout dropped significantly to only about 650 students. Many of the Junior Class Board organizers attributed the decrease in attendance to the University's stricter alcohol policy that was enforced that spring. The 10 members of the Sophomore Class Board who have worked to put this year's Skimmer into action are optimistic. "I think last year, the whole campus was depressed," Tolbert said. "We're thinking it will be better this year." She added that there would be no alcohol served at Skimmer. Another difficulty in past years was persuading the City of Philadelphia to grant a permit for Skimmer -- because of its history of chaotic behavior. In response, a Skimmer Committee was created that successfully secured a permit for Saturday's event. Skimmer is also funded by the Junior Class Board, the Undergraduate Assembly and the Tangible Change Committee.
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