Fall Fling draws freshmen crowd

Kayla Webley
2004-09-29
The Daily

A few thousand UW students came together to meet people, listen to music, eat good food and, of course, get free stuff, yesterday at Fall Fling, held on the HUB lawn.

This year's event offered activities including a BBQ, hosted by Housing and Food Services, carnival entertainers, such as fortune telling, musical performances and free games and movies.

According to Trevor Whiton, Fall Fling committee chair, this year's event was the best that the UW has seen.

"We couldn't ask for a better year," he said. "This year is a little bigger than last year's. I think we're probably over 3,000."

The event, sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, is designed to bring students together before going separate ways with the beginning of classes.

"This is to welcome students back," said Whiton, "to start the year out with a sense of community and just give the students an exciting event for the first part of the year. We try and do something special for them."

Fall Fling was primarily attended by incoming freshmen looking for the opportunity to meet new people which, according to freshman Brianna Freimanis, was aided by the entertainment provided.

"It is really cool that they have the bands going ... because even though I didn't know the first two bands it was still good because you could talk about them with people you just met and you know that everyone is going through the same stuff you are," she said.

The 15th annual Fall Fling brought in bands such as Amber Pacific, Schoolyard Heroes, the United States of Electronica and Something Corporate.

Matt Young, the lead singer of Amber Pacific, enjoyed retuning to the UW to play for students.

"I used to be a UW student. I went here for two quarters before we signed our record deal so I know what it's like," he said. "We played an early show so there wasn't that many people here but they still enjoyed themselves and had a good time."

The event also hosted many UW student organizations hoping to get their name out and spark interest in their club.

"I think this year has been a lot better than last year. It's been good, a lot of people are interested so far," said sophomore Jesse Eichner, tabling for Campus Crusade for Christ. "We're just trying to find everyone who wants to get involved with a church group and give them the awesome freebies. It's pretty fun."

Freshman Jessica Smith used the event as an opportunity to meet people and get involved.

"It gets me out of my dorm room, which is nice. Otherwise I'd probably just sit around. It's nice to go to such a big school because they can put on huge events like this and everyone will go and you can meet people," she said. "I have talked to a lot of people at the booths because I am interested in the Young Democrats."