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