The new spring event that the Temple administration has dubbed “CherryOn Experience Day,” was announced in late March, not only by Temple publications such as The Temple News, but made it to local television stations such as CBS3 Philly and NBC Philadelphia. When Temple University cancelled the annual Spring Fling event, it made news in Philadelphia Magazine, ABC local, Daily Mail Online and local blogs across Philadelphia. In order to discuss what I like to call the “consolation prize” for canceling the infamous event, it is necessary to rewind and look at why Spring Fling was initially cancelled.
Last year at Spring Fling, West Chester University student Ali Fausnaught died in a tragic incident where she fell into an alleyway from a building roof on the 1900 block of North 18th Street. She was reportedly visiting her boyfriend and was on the roof of an apartment building where drinking was taking place. Later that year, Temple cancelled Spring Fling, citing that it had become a day-drinking event and had lost its true purpose as a day for commuter students to get involved with student organizations and have fun on campus. Apparently, too many students were skipping class and partying.
But what did Temple expect by holding such an event on a class day? I will admit, as a freshman I was excited for Spring Fling. It was talked about as a big fun party day where everyone skipped class and had events. There was music, freebies and food (think Templefest meets Homecoming). What’s not to like?
Apparently, a lot of you ask the administration, who announced that this April 12, 2014 there will be a new event titled, “CherryOn Experience Day.” It will be held from 4 till 8 p.m. on Geasy Field and will feature food, music and wait for it…laser tag. The most important aspect of this new event is that it will be completely alcohol-free, with security checking for alcohol as they do when entering the Liacouras Center for events.
Now, upon hearing this I thought, “Okay, Temple is trying to give the students something after having a very uneventful year (this year’s Homecoming concert was cancelled). But, let’s be honest with ourselves and not pretend like we don’t know where we go to school. This is Temple University, the home of the #TU #turnup. Does the administration actually think that students are going to not party just because they take away one event? If so, they are painfully mistaken. Not long after they made this announcement it was announced via various “non-Temple affiliated twitter accounts” that there would be a huge block party in April. The best part is, it will take place the day of the Cherry-On Experience. Well, it looks like Temple students took the bait and are challenging the university once again and are reclaiming Spring Fling. The party is titled, “Owl Fest 2014“ and is associated with the hashtag, #SaveTUSPRINGFLING. And it will be held on no worthier street than Park Ave. I am not going to pretend like I know how this is going to play out, but if I had to guess I would say not well.
Temple should never have taken away the event because a non-Temple student died off-campus. All I have to say now is that I am excited to see what will happen on April 12. One thing Temple students know how to do is party, and now that “Spring Fling” is over, the only thing the block party will be for is partying. So, everyone be safe and try not to go too crazy because that never was never the actual intention. College shouldn’t be a place where people come to party, but it would be naive to pretend that it doesn’t happen and that it won’t happen. So, enjoy yourselves my friends, make good memories and most importantly #flingon.