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[Eric Shore/The Daily Pennsylvanian]

Ah, spring semester. For so many reasons, the spring term is significantly better than its fall equivalent: snow days, Greek rush, spring break, Hey Day -- the list goes on and on. The weather improves steadily throughout the semester and come April, we're all out in our board shorts and tankinis soaking up rays on College Green like we're somewhere in the Caribbean.

However, one event (or more accurately, series of events) captures the essence of spring semester and life at Penn: Spring Fling.

There, I said it. Spring Fling. Don't look now, but campus administrators are probably running for cover, thinking the apocalypse is upon us. There are two words that should never be mentioned around important people at Penn, and neither of them has four letters. For some reason, discussing Spring Fling is arguably worse than yelling "Fire!" in Zellerbach Theatre.

Any reasonable student would agree with the University's assertion that certain elements of Fling are unsafe, and no one would deny that the University assumes its biggest liability of the year during that fateful weekend in April. However, Fling in the Quad represents some of the best memories that Penn alumni take away from this hallowed institution. Fling needs to be made safer, but it also needs to stay in the Quad.

Unbeknownst to most of the student body, discussions take place each year in hopes of improving Penn's largest annual event. This year's discussions involved exploring "alternative locations" for many Fling events, including the signature carnival that has taken place inside the Quad since 1972. Spring Fling without the Quad would be like a circus without elephants. This can't really be happening, right?

Fortunately, the answer is no -- Fling '05 will indeed take place inside the Quad. It seems that, at least for now, the new administration does not want to rock the boat. This is certainly welcome news to the Social Planning and Events Committee, which has been working tirelessly to ensure that this year's Fling is the best ever. SPEC's Web site notes that "Spring Fling has become recognized as the largest college party on the East Coast" and that "people travel from around the country to join the University of Pennsylvania community in its celebration." The Quad is to Fling as Fling is to Penn -- vitally important. By moving Fling out of the Quad, the University would be making a huge mistake.

Currently, the relationship between students and campus administrators is very healthy. However, by putting the kibosh on Fling in the Quad, the University would be creating a rift not seen since the infamous alcohol ban of 1999. If administrators thought the GET-UP and Coalition of Concerned Students protests were bad, I cannot imagine what they would think of a Fling-related protest.

In a best case scenario, an unofficial "carnival" would surely take place in the Quad despite the "new" location. The worst case scenario is almost unfathomable -- total chaos, and dozens of unsafe, unregistered and unregulated parties on Beige Block and beyond. As one student I spoke with told me, "We'd throw so many parties that it wouldn't be possible to shut them all down."

Obviously, no one wants to see this happen. Students and administrators have been working tirelessly for years to improve the alcohol policy and bring more off-campus events back on campus. We've worked hard to mitigate high-risk drinking environments and make socializing safer for Penn students. Moving Fling would unravel all of these efforts, creating an even more unsafe environment than currently exists inside the Quad. The University administration surely does not want its students chugging jungle juice and hitting the ice luge in the backyards (and on the roofs) of houses on 43rd Street. Despite the fact that many of its decisions are fueled by advice from its legal counsel, I honestly believe that the University genuinely cares about the well-being of its students.

I applaud campus administrators for making the right decision. Although thousands upon thousands of people will descend upon the Quad on April 15 and 16, they will all be in one location and not spread out across West Philadelphia. This year's festivities will likely be the safest to date, as the Vice Provost for University Life has plans to work with Greek leaders to create an expanded Team Sober to help regulate the various events.

It seems that we have averted a potential disaster -- at least for this year. However, when you're eating your fried Oreos and jumping on the Moonwalk inside the Quad come April, don't take the experience for granted. Fling may not be in the Quad forever, so let's enjoy it while we still can.

Conor O'Callaghan is a senior in the Management and Technology program from Scottsdale, Ariz. The OC appears on Fridays.

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