Thousands jam at 250th party on College Green

The food gave it away this wasn't a typical 250th Anniversary event. The Coke and pretzels served at Saturday night's Quarter Millenium Celebratory Jam on College Green were a far cry from the wine and hors d'ouvres served at a similar function during Peak Week in May. But those attending the event didn't seem to mind most were content to spend several hours dancing to the live band The Big Push and having a good time without champagne, laser shows or Dolly Parton. "Never have I seen tuition money spent for a better cause," said Wharton junior Jackson Pek. "This is really a blast." Most of the 5000 people who attended the three-hour party agreed that it was how all campus events should be. Although planners may have been a bit overambitious when they purchased 10,000 soft pretzels for the event, coordinator Dan Singer said the pretzels were just about the only thing left over. 250th Student Committee Chairperson Steve Mendes said that the extra pretzels were donated to St. Joseph's Hospice. In addition to students, faculty, staff members and local residents showed up for the bash. "The diversity of the crowd was incredible," Mendes said. Larry Bartsmith and John Kazantzidis, both Upper Darby High School students, stopped by the party after attending a wrestling match at the Civic Center. Kazantzidis, who said he had only been to the University once before, called the party "awesome." Mendes refused to say how much the event cost. Financing, he said, came from part of the 250th Committee's budget, and the Goldenberg Candy Company donated some of the night's eats.

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