Testing... Spring Fling officially on

The Social Planning and Events Committee's 31st annual Spring Fling -- Testing, testing... is this Fling on? -- is set to kick off today.

But with weather forecasts predicting rain and temperatures in the 40s and 50s, many students find themselves wondering where spring is.

SPEC's Spring Fling Committee Co-Director Kelley Dowd, a College senior, said that the weekend's events in Franklin Field and the Quadrangle will take place, rain or shine.

Tonight's concert, which will open its doors at 6:30 p.m. at Franklin Field, will include headliner Busta Rhymes, in addition to hard-rock group The Donnas, hip hop group Jurassic 5 and Chicago rock band OK Go.

For students who choose to save their $20 -- or $30, if buying at the door -- SPEC's Spring Fling Committee has many other events in store.

From 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. today, student performance groups such as Dischord, Strictly Funk and Penn Six will entertain crowds in the lower and upper Quad. Others, including Mask and Wig, Off the Beat and Big Breakfast, will perform tomorrow.

Tomorrow night, the WB television station will do its part to help Penn celebrate Spring Fling, bringing a carnival to Wynn Commons and College Green from 8 p.m. to midnight -- but if it rains, the festivities, including laser tag and tarot readings, will relocate to the Hall of Flags in Houston Hall.

Some students are saying the uncharacteristically gray skies are deterring them from Fling activities.

"I'm probably not going to go to the concert because of the weather," College sophomore Rosalie Candido admitted, adding that she and her friends will be listening to this year's Spring Fling headliner Busta Rhymes in her room instead.

But according to SPEC Concerts Co-Director Ashley Wolff, ticket sales are going well.

"It's a pretty popular lineup," Wolff said.

"The capacity of Franklin Field is 8,000," she added. "We expect to reach the capacity."

And throughout the weekend, vendors such as Krispy Kreme and Ben & Jerry's will set up shop in the Quad to satisfy cravings.

And what Fling would be complete without sumo wrestling and caricature artists, also taking place in the Quad?

"It's a shame that the weather is going to be so bad," said College sophomore Ariel Schneier. "But I'm looking forward to hitting up the stuff that's in the Quad."

"Next to spring break, Spring Fling is the best time of the year," College sophomore Joey Shapiro said.

College sophomore Mike Barker claimed that he would be dressing up for the event as a wrestler from World Wrestling Entertainment, wearing a T-shirt that he and his friends have made specifically for Fling weekend.

However, some students are not as thrilled for the campus festivities during Spring Fling.

"Last year was a big disappointment, so I'm not going to get my hopes up," College sophomore Kristin Henningson said.

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