Keep Fling in the Quad

S ome things at Penn just go together. There's toast and football games, Hey Day and half-eaten hats, and of course, Spring Fling and the Quad. The two-day long festival, set amidst the grass and gothic buildings that line Spruce Street, is an important Penn tradition -- and one in grave danger of being moved.

Tomorrow, the University Council will examine a proposal that could potentially move Spring Fling from the Quadrangle. That would be a huge mistake. President Amy Gutmann and the University Council need to throw their weight against this initiative. The University must guarantee that Spring Fling will remain in the Quad this April, and all the Aprils to come. Spring Fling is part of Penn's identity. The festival has been inextricably tied to the Quad since its inception there in 1973. Moving Fling from the historic locale would spoil the experiences of many. The upper and lower Quad areas provide an ideal setup for two stages that can simultaneously host acts. In terms of safety, the venue is completely closed in and has only two entrance points, so officials can easily monitor the flow of people in and out. Alternative sites that have been proposed, such as College Green, do not have similarly fixed boundaries, which would make it harder to control crowds. No locale is perfect, and the Quad does have its flaws. However, they can all be dealt with through simple, proactive steps. One concern that administrators have raised is that of students excessively drinking alcohol in individual dorm rooms or hallways. Hiring additional police officers is not the answer to this problem. If officials really want to make sure students stay safe during Fling, they should expand programs that allow students to seek help without fear of punishment. Students trained to deal with emergencies, such as the "Fling Sober" team that was on hand during last year's event, should be a more visible part of the weekend. Through better marketing, it should be made clear that groups like this are there to help students -- not to get people in trouble. While an increased police presence will only make students more likely to deal with over-intoxicated friends by themselves, expanding programs like Fling Sober will make students more likely to ask for help. Officials need to explore options like these before they shuffle the celebration out of the Quad. We have not yet reached the point where the situation is unfixable. Last year, alcohol citations actually fell substantially, with 16 issued as compared to 20 in 2004. Gutmann and the University Council need to stand up for Penn traditions and Penn students. The president must publically promise us today that Fling will not be moved as long as she is president. Otherwise, she will be doing her University and its heritage a great disservice. What's next -- no hats on Hey Day?

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