Alicia Unis, ’13, Staff Writer
As coats are replaced with cutoffs and shoes with sandals, with more furniture on the lawn than in the building, and our grassy, green grounds decorated with a spattering of red Solo cups, it is clear: Springapalooza is in the air.
The annual “Spring Weekend” tradition at Merrimack has evolved from a simple weekend into a weeklong celebration. It is a series of events commemorating the arrival of spring, and the final party culminating the last semester of this academic year.
These events celebrate the warm weather, giving students the opportunity to get out from behind those books and into the sunlight. It provides an alluring distraction and needed break in a time of increasing academic stress.
Spring Weekend chair Tyler McCarthy said, “We want people to take advantage of the events that are being offered and we worked really hard to cater them to what students want. They are ‘come and go,’ relaxing events. And food — there’s always free food.”
And to give you a little taste of what the events — and the food — will be like: Wednesday April 17 Natalie Stovall MPR, 8 p.m. Natalie and her band have a unique sound, as they incorporate the fiddle and perform covers of classic rock and country songs.
Silent Demonstration in Honor of the Day of Silence & Breaking the Silence Ceremony Sak Patio, 5-6:30 p.m. The Day of Silence is a student-led national movement to take a vow of silence in the effort to increase awareness and support for anti-bullying and harassment in schools for all sexual orientations, and gender identities and expressions.
Thursday April 18 Cash Cab Campus-wide, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The Merrimack Planning Board will be using a Merrimack van as a “Cash Cab,” re-enacting the television game show in which students can take a ride in the van and will be asked a series of questions, and if answered correctly, they win prizes. 3v3 Basketball Tournament (Merrimack Women’s Basketball Fundraiser) Volpe Gym, 5:30-6 p.m. Check-In Stereotyped 101 Library Auditorium, 8 p.m. A comedian uses humor to promote awareness of the presence and impact of varying forms of stereotyping.
Friday, April 19, 2013 The Band Perry with Joel Crouse Lawler Arena, doors open at 7 p.m., showtime at 8 p.m. This popular country band will be performing a concert with opener Joel Crouse.
Tickets are currently sold out. Saturday April 20, 2013 Softball Tournament Volpe Field, 8 a.m. In this annual single-elimination softball tournament, there can be up to 16 players on a team, all teams must be captained by a senior and made up of approximately 50 percent seniors.
Each team must also have a minimum of three women on the field at all times. Heart and Soul Night Sak Patio, 9 p.m. In this block-party type outdoors event you can spread a blanket out on the grass and listen to the sounds of the steel drum band The Gentleman’s Outfit that performs a blend of reggae/Jack Johnson-style music, with food, novelty giveaways, and the possible presence of a beer tent.
If you are interested in joining the Merrimack Planning Board, you can contact Rose Dolan at dolanro@merrimack.edu
