Drexel kicks off festival

University students and alumni who were counting calories during last year's Peak Week festivities should be glad they didn't attend neighboring Drexel University. Last week, Drexel kicked off its 100th anniversary celebration by assembling the world's largest ice cream sandwich -- all 2,311,680 calories of it. It took 40 students and 45 minutes to build the treat at the Drexel Quad at 33rd and Chestnut Streets, and over 500 hungry people to polish it off. The event was the official start of the university's centennial celebration, which will continue throughout the year. With ice cream donated by Friendly's Restaurant, the students constructed the 30-foot-long sandwich, while WYSP's Andre Gardner supplied the music. "Good Morning America" was also on hand to capture the event. "This was a lot of hard work, but it really paid off," said Dawn Hagan, a Drexel junior and event coordinator. "This has brought everyone out -- these people wouldn't normally be here." Not to be outdone by the University's attempt at bringing Ben Franklin back from the grave last summer during its 250th celebration, Drexel hired an actor to portray founder Anthony Drexel and to introduce Drexel President Richard Breslin. Breslin called the festivities a "memorable event" in Drexel history. Balloons were then dropped from the top of nine-story Disque Hall as the sandwich cutting began. "This is a good thing for the students, and it will boost school spirit," said junior Erin Ward. "We needed this." Students said that attendance at university-wide events is often poor, adding that they hope this program changes that. "Nothing is ever attended here," said Drexel sophomore David Lieberman. "This is a major shift in school spirit." "This will make people proud to go to Drexel," Hagan added. With local TV cameras rolling, the centennial event turned into one of the largest food fights in Drexel history, as students hurled chunks of the dairy treat through the air. "It was way out of hand . . . almost a riot," Lieberman said. The centennial celebration will continue thorughout the year, with several other events centering on the number 100 planned. These centennial events include placing 100 students in the Drexel "fountain," 100-person Twister, 100 pounds of Tastykake and a 100-foot-long hoagie. Special events are also planned for graduation weekend, June 14-15. Like the University, Drexel has been beset with a financial crisis, and students said these events will go a long way in fighting the paucity of school spirit that has accompanied those difficulties. "It's great. We are having a lot of budget problems, and this will definitely boost the students' attitude about Drexel," said Drexel sophomore Paul Bereznycky.

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