A date has been set for a spring event sponsored by Student Programming Council to replace the controversial Springfest, which had previously served as SIUC’s spring festival.

The day-long event will be called SPC Spring Thing and is slated for April 18 at the Sam Rinella Fields near Brush Towers.

Andrew Daly, an SPC member who developed the spring event, said the festival will feature bands, a comedian, novelty games and food and drinks. Registered Student Organizations and Carbondale businesses will be present to provide information on their organizations. Daly said SPC is in the process of getting local and national corporations to help sponsor the event. SPC also hopes to make the festival an annual event.

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It will be a clash of almost everything, Daly said.

The festival became a subject of controversy in November when Undergraduate Student Government passed a resolution asking the University to sponsor and cooperate with a spring event. Because the sale of alcohol had been planned, the University would not allow any SIUC-affiliated organizations to co-sponsor the event because doing so would violate the University’s alcohol policy.

SPC presented a proposal outlining the event to the administration. The University approved all of SPC’s proposal except alcohol sales. Alcohol will not be allowed at the event.

SIUC had an annual Springfest celebration until 1992, when it was canceled because crowd members pelted each other with beer cans. A similar non-alcoholic event took place from 1993 to 1995 but was canceled due to lack of interest.

Daly said the absence of alcohol will not have an impact on the event, and people will have to adjust accordingly. Security for the event also should not be a problem, Daly said.

Basically it will just be a Saturday afternoon where everyone can come out and have a good time, he said.

Joel Fritzler, program manager of Carbondale Main Street, which was instrumental in developing last fall’s First Cellular Main Street Pig-Out, said his organization will not be involved with the festival because SPC did not respond in time.

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They took too long to get back to us, Fritzler said. We are hoping to work with them on some future events.

Chancellor Don Beggs said the event should be positive for students.

I think there is a real interest on students’ part to allow them to do things that are fun, that are constructive, and to have a fun time and be responsible, Beggs said. I hope it is an asset. Students are trying to make it work and I respect that.

FACTOID:Anyone interested in sponsoring or volunteering for SPC Spring Thing can call the SPC office at 536-3393.