Headliner Of A Revolution is doing more than boosting ticket sales for this year's Spring Fling concert; the band is also attracting more volunteers to help keep Fling safe.
Over 250 students have volunteered for FlingSafe, a student-run safety initiative for next week's festival. Organizers say they cannot let any more apply.
All volunteers will receive a free ticket to the OAR concert on April 7, which many say was the reason they were willing to give up 2.5 hours of freedom during Fling.
Last year, 130 students applied to join Team Sober, a similar safety program.
"It's really amazing that, in the program's second year, we were able to draw twice as many people to help," College senior and Social Planning and Events Committee Spring Fling co-Director Jake Chanin said. "The OAR tickets really are the main reason we have so many people."
FlingSafe is intended to keep students safe over the course of Fling weekend. Student volunteers will patrol the Quadrangle and try to prevent and control potentially dangerous situations.
"The fact that we have over twice the amount of people working this year is probably because we already have a year of experience under our belt, but also because the [Spring Fling] executive board did a fantastic job getting the word out and advertising across campus," Alcohol Policy Initiatives Director Stephanie Ives said.
Chanin attributes the rise in volunteer interest both to increased advertising and the free tickets. He said that due to the volume of applicants, SPEC Spring Fling took the online application off the group's Web site last Tuesday, three days before the application process was supposed to end.
Since the Office of Health Education is paying for volunteers' concert tickets, it would be too expensive to have more than 250 people working, Chanin said.
And it appears that SPEC Spring Fling's marketing techniques were successful.
"The free concert ticket was definitely one reason why I signed up, but it's also important to make people safe," Engineering freshman Sudhanshu Aggarwal said. "I definitely want to try and preserve this Penn tradition."
Every volunteer must attend one mandatory training session. Two are offered, one last night and the other tonight.
Chanin said that scenarios experienced by Team Sober members last year will be used in training this year's volunteers.
He added that student-run safety programs at this year's Fling will be more important than in years past.
"This year's Fling will be significantly reviewed by the University Council, and the provost has stated that he wants to see significant improvements," Chanin said.
Each member of the team will be equipped with a walkie-talkie and will be able to communicate with program leaders and the Penn Police. Pairs of volunteers will work shifts from noon until 7:30 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday, April 7 and 8.
"Since my freshman year, there has been so much going on during Fling that has upset the school and there have been more and more threats of cancelling it," College junior Ishani Pathmanathan said. "I just wanted to make sure people are safe."
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.
