Spring time for final fling as SE prepares for fun day
by Brian Shults, se news editor

    Spring Fling gives procrastinators a school-sponsored day to slack off one last time before the finals crunch. Students can play volleyball and eat cheaply Tuesday, April 23, on SE Campus.

   “It is a chance for students to relax, hang out, enjoy fellowship and further develop the collegiate community. But mainly to just have fun,” Pert Durapau, director of student activities and fling coordinator, said.

   Students desiring to bounce, knock and jump into one another will have oversized, padded sumo wrestling suits to do it in.

   The suits offer protective covering for anyone willing to step into the ring and duel.

   In addition to sumo wrestling, a Velcro sticky-fly wall is open for attaching to.

   The wall is one side of the Velcro while the participant wears the other side and jumps onto it, sticking like a fly to a wall, Durapau said.

   Spindisc Entertainment provides the music and Weber cafeteria will have a $1.25 barbecue sandwich, chips, cookie and drink out on the North front lawn along with the entertainment, Durapau said.

   Volleyball enthusiasts currently are signing up players for Spring Fling teams. Interested students and faculty should contact student activities at 817-515-3595.

   Eight players are needed for every team, and winners each receive a $10 gift certificate for a local restaurant. The tournament begins at 2 p.m., ending at 5 p.m., Durapau said.

   This year the SE and Arlington police departments are combining their Third Annual Crime Prevention Awareness Festival with Spring Fling.

   “We want to show citizens what their tax dollars are going to. We are going to bring out things like the mobile command unit, K-9 unit and the gang unit,” Cpl. C. D. Williams, SE police officer and festival coordinator, said.

   The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission will present information about watercraft safety on lakes; Fort Hood Army facility is bringing out its medical helicopter, and the Navy is attending.

   “It is a time for people to come talk to police officers in a nice and friendly environment about home protection, personal safety and preventing auto theft, without worrying about being arrested,” Williams said.

   “Most people won’t come knock on the window of a police car and ask questions about these issues. Police officers, especially in crime prevention, really want to help the people and get information out to them about how to protect themselves,” he said.

   Along with the Arlington Police Department, the Bedford, Cedar Hill, Fort Worth and Irving departments will have representatives there as well.

   The officers conducting the information booths are volunteering their time as citizens and policemen to help ensure the public’s safety, Williams said.