Catey Mark: 'Flinging' responsibly

Looking into the crowd of my fellow students, I knew it was worth it. After a year of anticipation, months of hard work and planning and two of the longest days of my life, I stood on the Lower Quad stage with Mask and Wig actors as they closed out last year's Fling with the Red and the Blue. I was struck with pride and a sense of accomplishment as well as a new appreciation for Spring Fling.

It means something different to each of us. To some, Fling serves as one last opportunity to showcase a year of work in an a cappella or dance group. For others, it is a time to enjoy the first warm days of the spring, an opportunity to reconnect with friends from freshmen year or a source of relaxation before finals. For me, it's a defining moment of my college career. But to us all, Fling is a celebration of Penn and is a memory we will share in the years to come.

In addition to promoting a sense of unity throughout the University community, however, the culture surrounding our beloved festival has evolved into one that accepts excessive drinking and recklessness. While the majority of us exercise responsibility, the future of Fling is seriously threatened by those who engage in unsafe behavior.

We applaud the University Council's decision to keep Fling in the Quad. But with this decision comes great responsibility, and that responsibility is shared by all. To ensure the safety of all participants, as well as the future of Fling, it is extremely important that we, as students, rally to show the administration that we are capable of Flinging with pride and Flinging with respect, respect of our faculty and staff, our institution, our peers and ourselves.

To this end, SPEC has committed to spearheading a student-led effort to change the culture, while maintaining the tradition, of Fling. Last year, we introduced Team Sober to create a source of positive peer pressure. This year, we will continue those initiatives with FlingSafe, an expansion of Team Sober which will feature an extensive awareness campaign promoting responsible partying.

However, we cannot effect the necessary changes without the help of our fellow students. Refining the culture of Spring Fling is imperative to ensure Fling's very existence. We call upon you, our fellow students, to aide us in this effort. Challenge yourself and your peers to act with integrity and respect and to exceed the administration's expectations.

As suggested at the UC meeting, the administration will likely review student behavior after Spring Fling 2006. It is important for the student body to recognize that Fling is a privilege and, while our committee is proud to plan the event, we implore you to take responsibility for your Fling.

After the holiday break, SPEC will be holding a town hall meeting for students to discuss concerns and propose suggestions. We hope to reach out to the entire student body, and we value your thoughts. The effort to reform Fling's culture cannot come from our committee alone. Rather, it must be a unified effort by all students.

If you truly care about the future of this tradition, take action. Sign up to participate in FlingSafe. Spread the word to your friends. Drink responsibly. Respect property. Enjoy Spring Fling in a safe manner.

We trust that you will make this year's Spring Fling more enjoyable, more memorable and safer than ever before.

Lend a hand - To apply to participate in FlingSafe, e-mail Flingsafe@gmail.com

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