Students prepare for Fling weekend

It's finally here.

Spring Fling, the annual bacchanalian Penn tradition, descends on campus this weekend. And students can't wait for the organized chaos that the weekend will bring.

"I think Fling is going to be awesome," Wharton sophomore Sean Taylor said. "All of my friends are coming down, and we are just going to party it up all weekend."

In fact, Taylor said he plans to party even harder than he did his freshman year.

"I learned from my mistakes last year," Taylor said. "I am going to party longer."

And Taylor is not the only student who wants to do things differently. Wharton sophomore Mark Silverstein said he, too, hopes to enjoy more of Fling this year.

"I think I slept through too much of Saturday," Silverstein said. "I think I missed a lot."

Above all else, Silverstein said he certainly does not want to miss this year's concert. Tonight's show at Hill Field will feature Lucky Boys Confusion, Pete Yorn, De La Soul and headliner George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars.

"I bought tickets the second they came on sale," Silverstein said. "I am looking forward to the concert. I am a big George Clinton fan."

Taylor said he is particularly excited about the concert, which is annually the highlight of Fling weekend.

"The fact that George Clinton is coming is awesome," Taylor said. "It will be much better than last year's concert."

College freshman Alexander Aronson said he hopes Clinton brings on the funk.

"Make my funk the p-funk," Aronson said. "I want my funk funked up."

And funk he will have. College senior Ilyse Stempler said she just hopes the funk occurs under warm, blue skies. Early predictions show good weather this afternoon but a chance of showers tomorrow.

"I am just hoping it is good weather for the first time since I have been here," Stempler said. "It has always rained at least one of the days every year."

But rain or shine, Stempler said she will be out and about.

"I feel like Fling is just about roaming around," she said.

One place Wharton senior Kate Perper said she won't be roaming is the fraternities.

"I feel like I won't be going to any frat parties," Perper said. "But that just comes with being a senior."

Looking back over her three previous Fling experiences, Perper said, "I think it has been pretty similar every year."

But Silverstein, for one, said he wants to make this year's Fling different -- at Saturday night's Carnival on Wynn Commons and College Green.

"I did the jousting last year and got my ass beat," Silverstein said. "I will try to win that this year."

College junior Ulrike Graalfs said that this Fling will certainly be a change from her freshman year, when she missed much of the revelry.

"I did athletics my freshman year and could not go to Fling," Graalfs said. "That was a big mistake."

Now, Graalfs said she is excited about making up for lost time.

"I look forward to hanging out with friends, spending time with all of the wonderful seniors who will be gone, seeing George Clinton and the P-Funk and de-stressing," Graalfs said. "I expect to have fun."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.