Though temperatures at this year’s Spring Fling were lower than in previous years, students’ spirits were as high as ever.
Dodging spotted rain showers throughout the weekend, students milled around the Quad and College Green to enjoy performances, food from local vendors, carnival rides and games.
“I had a great time,” Wharton and College senior Arun Das said. “I wish the day would have been better for the weather, but I guess it just kept things exciting.”
While Das said it is “bittersweet” that this was his last Spring Fling as a Penn student, College freshman Allie Cutler said she was excited her experiences with Fling have only just begun.
“It was crazy — there were so many people here,” she said of her dorm in the Quad. “The whole thing was bigger than I ever thought it would be.”
Members of the Social Planning and Events Committee were similarly satisfied with the weekend’s events.
“I’ve seen four Flings now,” College senior and SPEC President Dasha Barranik said, “and from the logistical side of things, I think this was definitely the smoothest.”
At the same time, Barranik added, the weather might have led students to drink more because they were forced indoors during showers.
“It was a strain on MERT,” Barranik said, “to have to go further across campus to help people out.”
Nursing senior Kiane Simeon agreed.
“People went out a lot less because the weather wasn’t cooperative, which just gave them more of an excuse to be wet and drunk,” she said. “They were slipping and sliding all over each other.”
The Medical Emergency Response Team fared “very well” and was more integrated in Fling operations this year, according to MERT member and former MERT President Sourav Bose, a College junior.
Bose said there were overall more calls to MERT than during last year’s Fling. “We increased calls by about 18% this year,” he wrote in an e-mail.
Though the inclement weather did not affect the sold-out concert Friday night, it might have decreased turnout at some of the smaller performances on Friday and Saturday.
The Mask and Wig show, for instance, saw fewer audience members than it traditionally does, Barranik said, because people probably chose to remain indoors.
Still, according to Mask and Wig Chairman RJ Wynn, a College senior, “the crowd that was there was really steady. Everyone who came stuck around and was really responsive, so [the performance] was equally as enjoyable — everything I could have wanted and more.”
The Chi Omega Dunk Tank was a success despite chilly Saturday temperatures. The sorority collected more than $600 for the Make a Wish foundation.
“I think that there was even more of a turnout this year than last year,” said Chi Omega Philanthropy Co-Chairwoman Jamie Acero, a Nursing junior.
College sophomore Klil Babin said she was “amazed” by Spring Fling this year.
“We actually got lucky,” she added, “because it was supposed to rain the whole time. And it didn’t even matter — Fling exceeds all expectations every year. It just gets better and better.”
This article has been corrected from its print version to reflect that a quote should be attributed to Kiane Simeon.