Board of Trustees debates future of Spring Weekend

By: Grace Harper

Posted: 10/10/08

Numerous groups represented different views on how to improve UConn's infamous Spring Weekend at last night's hearing held by the Board of Trustees Student Life Committee. One message that was supported by all attendees, including the administrative board, was that in no way was there a motion to eliminate Spring Weekend altogether.

Phil Barry of the Board of Trustees made very clear that he, and others at the hearing, are not advocating the shutting down of Spring Weekend. Rather, the efforts of the Board are to "minimize the bad effects."

Policy ideas, such as to work in stages were discussed, particularly concerning ways to eliminate outsiders and provide more structure in respect to guests.

"[We] just had fun with each other," said Meghan Perrone, a 7th-semester sociology major and chair for USG Safety Advisory Committee. "There weren't a lot of extra people."

Many were concerned about the outsiders and their presence at UConn's Spring Weekend. These outsiders play a role in the deterrence from student planned activities as well as safety issues off-campus.

Among the night's speakers was the Student Alumni Association, which spoke about the much-anticipated Oozeball Tournament, a program created by the association. Representatives discussed the program's need for funds, as the tournament is so popular with students and many teams had to be turned away in the past. The Oozeball Tournament is just one of the many student-run activities UConn members put a great deal of effort into planning for Spring Weekend.

USG, for instance, puts a great deal of time and effort into organizing events for UConn students during this weekend.

"We're asked outright to protect tradition," said USG President Ryan McHardy.

SUBOG is known for its annual Saturday night concert during Spring Weekend, an event for which timing is crucial - it is planned specifically to deter students from going to X-Lot and instead, enjoy a sober activity. The concert always features at least one big name performer, if not multiple and is an event UConn students look forward to all year.

"Our aim is to get 5,000 people," said SUBOG President Brian Carabello. "[The concert] is one of the most celebrated events."

Events such as these are what many speakers said needed emphasis.

"It's not our job to out program Spring Weekend, but rather to provide alternatives [to off-campus activities]," said Saddlemire.

With attendance numbers for the concert never reaching full capacity, it seems the alternatives are not enough to completely deter students from venturing away from UConn to celebrate.

The issue of safety was one brought up repeatedly, with differences in both views and methods of how to go about trying to solve the issue. Many UConn safety experts as well as Mansfield residents spoke about the concern for the off-campus activities that take place at housing areas such as Carriage House and Celeron Apartments as well as at X-Lot.

The number of UConn students, as well as non-UConn students attending as guests, who go to these events on Spring Weekend is in the thousands, according to information shared by Matt Hart, Mansfield town manager. He informed the administrative board that 250-300 public safety officials are needed to attempt to maintain order at such events.

This magnitude of necessary safety involvement is an enormous burden on the town, Hart said.

"We're making progress but we're investing [a lot] of taxpayers dollars," Hart said.

Though speakers such as Hart expressed concern that the environment at UConn is merely amplified during Spring Weekend, there were speakers who wanted to try and fix the situation by more extreme means.

According to Cathy Cocks of the Office of Community Standards, there is an expectation to be reckless among students and in order to end it there should be a reduced number of emergency personnel. Cocks believed this severe amount of emergency personnel presence only cultivates the unsafe environment; it does not prevent parties at Carriage House, Celeron Apartments or X-Lot.

Both Cocks and Saddlemire agreed on the shared mentality among students, particularly on Spring Weekend, that there is a comfort in numbers.

"Students think, 'What're the odds I will get in trouble that weekend?'" Saddlemire said of students who simply follow the crowd to these parties.

A primary concern with the possible inability to put a stop to this environment is that it is believed freshman want to go just to go.

Not everyone agrees such bold measures as taking away safety precautions at these highly populated parties would be the best way to handle the situation. Perrone addressed the need for a partnership within the UConn community to make Spring Weekend safer and more enjoyable

"Some of the administrators who spoke have a skewed perspective on how students feel about Spring Weekend," Perrone said. "There needs to be so much consideration for how students feel not an interpretation of what administrators think we should feel. Spring Weekend is a bonding experience for students."

"It's a serious enough problem that is should be discussed often and openly," said Barry. "The more people you bring into it, [the more likely] you'll come up with some program for a better Spring Weekend."

Though many contrasting views came out during the hearing, all the speakers felt strongly about a need for change and for UConn to address what we can do, Barry said.

The next hearing will be held Wednesday, Oct. 15 in Student Union Room 410.