Fling to be extra sweet this year

Need another excuse to indulge in fried Oreos and Dippin’ Dots at Spring Fling?

Pour on some sugar and get your sweet tooth ready, because this year’s Spring Fling theme is “Fling Never Tasted So Sweet,” the Social Planning and Events Committee announced on Wednesday.

The winning theme — inspired by the Candy Land board game theme in Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” music video — was chosen by SPEC Spring Fling committee members and SPEC directors from among 20 other top theme proposals, according to SPEC Secretary and College junior Josh Oppenheimer.

Spring Fling this year will take place from Friday, Apr. 13 to Saturday, Apr. 14.

The Spring Fling committee will be accepting submissions for the annual T-shirt design contest highlighting the 2012 theme until Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 11:59 p.m.

The committee also encourages bands, singers, dance groups and a cappella groups to sign up to perform in the Quad. Performance submissions are due Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 5:00pm EST. Submissions from student groups to sell food and other goods at booths in the Quad are due Mar. 2 at 5 p.m..

“I really like this theme — the first thing I think of is a massive dessert party,” College freshman Julia Sigman said. “It’s going to be a crazy, crazy week — I don’t know what to expect, but it sounds really fun.”

Engineering freshman Valerie Cohen agreed, adding that with this theme, it’s “very easy to do something with candy and bright-colored decorations.”

Past Spring Fling themes have included “Viva La Fliñg,” “Some Flings Do Come True” and “Some Flings Never Get Old.”

“I think this theme is much better than last year’s,” Nursing sophomore Maddie Wilson said. “I think it would be optimal to give a lot of free food … It would be cool if all around campus they were giving you free sweets and cupcakes.”

For College senior Jake Silverman, the theme isn’t as important as the musical acts that are selected for the Friday-night Fling concert.

“I’ll wait for the artists to gauge my Fling expectations … If Snoop Dogg came again, I’d be a happy person,” he said.

SPEC is in the process of calling vendors around the Philadelphia area to acquire decorations and food that will incorporate the Candy Land theme.

“We’re hoping to get everyone on a sugar high,” Oppenheimer said.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.