Administration considers moving Spring Fling

A source in the office of President Richard Levin, GRD '74, confirmed that the Yale Administration has been considering a relocation of Spring Fling since last spring.

JULIA TIERNAN/YH While Old Campus hosted the 1997 and 1998 Spring Flings, summer resodding has pushed the Administration to consider new sites for the event.

Nina Glickson, assistant to the President, said that the summer resodding of Old Campus was a motivating factor for the discussions, stating that "the grounds were completely redone and new sod was laid down. Knowing this in advance, last spring there were discussions about whether events of the nature of Spring Fling could continue to be held on the Old Campus." Glickson also mentioned that security reasons were not a factor in plans for relocation.

Dean of Student Affairs Betty Trachtenberg would only comment that "we are always considering new locations to hold the event," and insisted that it was too early in the academic year for any official or specific decisions to have been made or even considered.

Some YCC members had anticipated that Spring Fling festivities might be moved from last year's location. Representative Eric Peterson, SY '99, last year's Spring Fling Coordinator, said, "We learned at the end of last year that Spring Fling could no longer be held on Old Campus," though he quickly added, "I don't know what transpired over the summer." He believes that both security concerns and the rejuvenation of Old Campus may have prompted the Administration to discuss relocation.

"Ever since the event was moved to Old Campus, despite [the] safety precautions, there has been concern about the security of freshman dorm rooms and the possibility of strangers having access to them," Peterson said. "Also, the school just spent approximately $86,000 to lay down new sod on Old Campus."

Resodding was repeatedly mentioned as a key reason to explain the possible relocation of Spring Fling. The Yale Corporation made the decision to have Whiting Turner Construction resod Old Campus this summer. Regarding any future activity on the Old Campus lawns, Arch Currie, Director of Project Management for Yale's Office of Facilities, said, "The director of grounds maintenance is making sure the grass gets established before people are allowed to walk on it." He also explained, "The resodding had to be done under any circumstances. Every single utility underground needed to be replaced: soil lines, storm drains, fire protection lines, power, telecommunications, everything."

Though Peterson acknowledged that no definite course of action has been decided upon and no formal committee currently exists to discuss a possible move, he said that the Yale Bowl was a definite possibility. Peterson has reservations about such a move, however. "I am much more comfortable with having Yalies enjoying Spring Fling on the main campus than I am with sending students on school buses or on foot up Chapel Street," he said. "Also, I've always felt that one of the highlights of Spring Fling is that it is an event right in our backyard, so students can come and go as they wish. I think attendance will drop if it is moved away from the center of campus, and the atmosphere of the day will change."

Glickson said that the administration currently has no other specific location in mind for Spring Fling, though she agreed that the massive size of the Yale Bowl could make it a consideration. The Bowl remains one of Yale's few facilities large enough to accommodate the number of students Spring Fling attracts. She said that a return to Cross Campus Lawn, where Spring Fling had been held until two years ago, is not possible because the construction in Berkeley College will last throughout the spring. Glickson emphasized that discussion of a specific location for the festivities of April 1999 is as yet premature.

YCC President Zach Kaufman, SY '99, would not comment on any specific plans for relocating Spring Fling and added that neither the YCC nor the administration knew whether Spring Fling would definitely be moved this coming year. Kaufman did discuss improvements underway for the event and mentioned that the YCC is currently working on ways to increase student participation in selecting the genre of music and the featured band for Spring Fling, a process which will include the use of surveys. Also under consideration are new and creative ways of fundraising for the event and the possibility of allowing more undergraduate organizations to co-sponsor activities.

Fawzi Jumean, MC '00, YCC Vice President, explained, "I can't comment on [the possibility of relocating Spring Fling] simply because we're still in discussions with the Administration." He added, "But whatever location on campus we choose, we'll make sure that it's very convenient to students and that it will be very conducive to a great Spring Fling."

Back to News...