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April 26, 2003
By JOHN CHARLES ROBBINS
Staff writer
As the bell in Dimnent Chapel struck 1 on Friday, the call went out: Put down your books and pick up some fun.
Hope College students swarmed the Pine Grove commons area to shake off winter, welcome spring and blow off a little
steam before final exams next week.
"It's a blast," said freshman Lynnae Ruberg, 18, from Brighton who is in the international studies program
at Hope.
Each year the Holland college marks the final day of classes by hosting the Spring Fling.
"It's really cool how the school does this for us. It's a good way to end the school year," Lynnae said.
The afternoon of festivities was provided by the student activities department.
Book bags and laptops were left behind in favor of footballs, Frisbees, in-line skates, balloons and squirt guns.
A warm breeze carried the unmistakable scents of an outdoor party -- burning charcoal, fresh grass and cocoa butter
sunscreen.
"It's just a fun day," said sophomore Sara Burns, 19, of Naperville, Ill.
A pre-med and chemistry major, Sara belongs to the social activities committee that staffs the Fling, and she's an
incoming co-director of the event.
"It gives the students a chance to hang out and relax before finals in a safe and clean and substance-free environment,"
she said.
It also serves to wrap up the school year and affords a last farewell for seniors, she said.
For Jay Manojlovich, 20, a junior, the Spring Fling offered a break from the marathon study funk he'll be enmeshed
in throughout the weekend.
From Clarkston, Jay is studying management and economics.
"I have too many exams," he lamented while tearing open a packet of mayo for his sandwich.
Normally he'd be canoeing down the Manistee River with his buddies, but this year a load of final exams weighs heavy
on his mind.
He has two finals first thing Monday morning, and expects to be married to his textbooks over the next few days.
He ventured outside his room to check out the event because, "It looks like fun," he said. He gave it a
high grade.
"It's a reward for the students who have put in a lot of hard work. It lets them blow off some steam and is a
chance for friends to get closer," Jay said.
Piles of steaming hot dogs and troughs of baked beans rested on tables circling the commons.
For those with relaxation in mind, blankets were flung on a grassy hill, along with well-worn sofas circa 1978 pulled
outside from dorm rooms.
A variety of games were offered including sumo wrestling, bouncy boxing and an obstacle course.
One new event, The Push, was a crowd pleaser.
Teams of students commandeered orange shopping carts and raced around the campus for trophies and glory.
Bragging rights went to The Three Amigos, young men who worked up a sweat in their black matador outfits and sombreros.
Recognized for their last place finish was Euro Beach, a gang of men who had managed to squeeze into achingly-tight
Speedos.
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