Fling might meet budget, organizers say

For the first time in several years, Spring Fling apparently has operated at or slightly under budget, Fling Co-director Rob Cohen said last night. "From all indications it would appear Spring Fling operated at budget, give or take $500 to $1000," Cohen said. But the College senior stressed that even if Fling comes out under budget, it would not constitute a profit because the Social Planning and Events Committee has spent thousands of dollars to sponsor Fling. He said any excess revenue would be funneled back into SPEC's budget. In past years, bad weather and less popular attractions have caused budget deficits totaling several thousand dollars. Cohen said Fling's exact financial situation will not be known until Residential Living submits a Quadrangle damage report and Physical Plant submits its final bill for electricity, water and cleanup. South Campus Director Thomas Leal could not be reached last night for comment on damage to the Quad, but Assistant Dean for Residences Cheryl Groce said yesterday that damage, at least in the Community House section, appeared to be less than in the past. Groce said the only damage she knew of included a mirror and paper towel rack that were damaged in an Ashurst bathroom and two or three fire extinguishers that were vandalized. Three years ago, $7000 in damage to a Morris dormitory bathroom was charged to the Fling budget. Cohen said Friday's Indigo Girls concert also ended under budget due to unexpectedly high ticket sales. Organizers originally had hoped for ticket sales of about 5000, but all of the 6000 tickets printed for the show were gone by Friday afternoon. Cohen said students bought over 1300 tickets on Friday alone. But Cohen said although the sell-out increased the concert's revenue by about $5000 to a total of about $34,000, the sales still fell far short of the $56,000 cost of the concert. Cohen said he expected Fling's revenue from the sale of soda, Fling guest passes and vendor fees to meet the committee's expectations, adding that slightly lower than expected Fling t-shirt sales will probably cause the only revenue shortfall. But Co-director Denise Rubin said while shirt sales were slow, the lost revenue would not have a significant effect on Fling's ability to cover its expenses. Cohen added the shirts, which were sold by Fling organizers, University Sportwear and Mt. Olympus, were intended all along to be sold at cost rather than for profit. Vendors selling food in the Quad and at Hill Field also reported good sales both Friday and Saturday, though all had different opinions about how this year's Fling compared to those in past years. Rob Long, manager of Chili's restaurant, said fajita sales at his restaurant's booth were "definitely up from past years." Long said Chili's made more money this year even though the fee Fling charges vendors went up $100 to $575. But Lee's Hoagie House owner Jan Zucker said even though Lee's turned a profit at Fling, the "consensus of vendors" was that the volume of sales this year was not "as great as in the past." Zucker, who said he has worked at Fling for the past seven years, attributed the falloff both to a "very mellow" mood this year on the part of students and the shortening of Fling from four to two days three years ago.

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