Husky Life

Two Facebook groups that I recently stumbuled upon discuss the future of Spring Weekend.

One group, “UConn Executitve Plan to end Spring Weekend!!!”,  details suggestions made by the Student Life Committee in Feb. to curtail certain elements of the infamous event.

Some of the  committee’s recomendations, according to the fb group and the summary, include:

“Do not allow the days of unsanctioned events of Spring Weekend to grow; establish a goal to eliminate one of the three days within three years.”

“Faculty can help play an important role in help promoting a safe spring weekend that helps celebrate students academic achievements by requiring attendance the Friday of spring weekend.”

The other group, “End Spring Weekend”, calls for UConn to end spring weekend in the wake of the fight that sent UConn student Jafar Karzoun to the hospital. A message posted on the group’s info tab reads,

“This year, a student was assaulted on Thursday night of Spring Weekend, and as of Saturday morning is still in critical condition. UCONN might end up in a position where they have to say that a student was killed, on our campus, during Spring Weekend. This should have never happened and should never happen again.”

What do you think? Should UConn take steps to bring Spring Weekend down a notch, or should it take extra efforts to protect students? Should UConn consider cancelling it or is it an essential part of the UConn experience?

I couldn’t call this a UConn blog without mentioning Spring Weekend. It’s big news. In fact, the Huffington Post picked up The Daily Campus‘ coverage of Thursday night at Carriage. To get a better idea of what this time of celebration is really about — hint hint lots of drinking — check out the Hartford Courant‘s gallery.

Here is what I saw/heard on my first spring weekend:

*someone burning a sweatshirt in a campfire. I believe that the individual was subsequently arrested.
*a noticeable police, fire and EMS presence. Check points by police. Flashing lights. Everywhere.
*a UConn pick-up truck stocked with water bottles parked on the trail between campus and the off-campus parties. One of the travelers on this path exclaimed, “Someone must be very thirsty!”
*friendly police officers — well as long as you’re nice to them. On the way out I said, “Have a good night, officer.” He replied, “Thanks for coming.”
*mud in the showers due to the campus’ legendary Oozeball games.
*people from Domino’s Pizza trying to deliver Pizza through the crowds at Celeron and X-Lot.

So UConn students and alumns, what is your favorite spring weekend memory?

Spring Weekend, UConn, Storrs, Spring Weekend 2010

Hearing about the adventures of the GHS Band in Greece reminded me of some happy memories of the band’s China trip. It was probably one of my most memorable experiences of high school. After we had played on the Great Wall of China, I remember telling a freelance journalist, who was traveling with us for the Greenwich Time, how the experience felt like a dream or something out of a Hollywood movie. Some lucky band members, who were freshman at the time of the China trip, also had the amazing opportunity to experience both Greece and China.

I recall that our China trip went very smoothly. Mr. Yoon, the band director, traveled our entire itinerary to make sure that all the hotels and restaurants would be good for our group. However, I suppose that you can’t select the weather. And massive volcanoes usually don’t erupt and shut down air travel in Europe.

That said, I’m sure that my friends who are currently in Greece are probably enjoying the extended vacation. I know that I would. But at the same time, I realize that they probably earned it. It takes a lot of energy to play multiple concerts over a week. But it’s a lot of fun — especially when you have some extra time to relax afterwards.

Today is Open House at UConn. Many new students and families are walking around campus. Some were getting tours of select rooms in my dorm when the dorm was evacuated due to a fire alarm. Ironically, one of my friends who was giving a tour was asked about safety on campus earlier in the day. He mentioned that UConn has its own fire department in his reply. You can see them in action in a really fuzzy cell phone video above.

According to Facebook, incumbents Tom Haggerty and Donald Clive Richards, have been re-elected to President and V.P. positions respectively.

Brien T. Buckman, won the election for USG Comptroller, also according to Facebook.

I don’t remember exactly where I found it but some UConn celebs — members of USG and the media — were featured in an mp3 about Spring Weekend.

The roster includes UCTV star Joey Homza, USG President Thomas Haggerty “T. Hagz”, Student Body V.P. Lia Albini and Krizman. It was produced by “DJ Rico.”

Here’s the video. What do you think about it? American Idol material?

The USG is giving out free t-shirts and headbands on Fairfield Way right now, if you can prove that you voted in their online elections.

My best advice is to go into the library and print our your proof of voting as the line to the CUE computer lab is incredibly long. I also wonder if they might run out of promotional materials. I’m guessing that supplies are limited and the sooner you can get there, the better.

You can vote at usg.uconn.edu, but don’t just vote for the free items! In the words of my friend Sam Tracy, a CLAS senator candidate who recently published an opinion piece in the Daily Campus,

Most importantly, USG receives student funding. Just like citizens of any kind of government, UConn students essentially pay taxes to go to school in the form of student fees. Because of this, every student has a stake in USG.

One of the awesome parts of the college experiences are the sounds. If you walk down any dorm hallway during the waking hours, chances are that you’ll hear someone blasting a cool mashup, remix or a top 40 song. Here is a YouTube video of one that I recently heard while walking the hall outside of my room. I think that it’s quite original and I give serious props to its musical creator.

The original artist for the song is Justin Bieber (with Ludacris), of course. Aside from the fact that his song “Baby” is on the iTunes Top 10 chart, he recently in a skit with Tina Fey on SNL.