Over the next few months, Temple University will be working with student leaders and student organizations to develop new campus-wide events and programs for the spring.

The event known as Spring Fling, which began decades ago when the university was almost exclusively a commuter school and was originally conceived to provide an opportunity to unite the student body in a day of celebration, will no longer be held.

The original purpose of Spring Fling has lost its value, said Theresa Powell, vice president for student affairs, citing concerns often associated with Temple’s growing residential population. Additionally, Powell and Temple Dean of Students Stephanie Ives cite very serious concerns about high-risk drinking surrounding Spring Fling.

“A dangerous culture of high-risk drinking has infiltrated the event, undermining our academic mission and our duty to safeguard student health and wellness,” said Ives.

Over the course of the last several months, Powell and Ives discussed the future of Spring Fling with numerous partners across the university.

“By and large, the consensus was that it is time for us to re-think how best to unite and engage students,” said Ives. “A university-wide event such as Spring Fling can no longer be reasonably and responsibly sponsored by the university when it has been overshadowed by dangerous behaviors.”

As part of their charge, Powell and Ives will also work with students to look at different types of spring programming offered at other universities.

“We have full confidence that our students can work together to develop exciting new programs that will usher in new Temple traditions for many years to come,” said Powell.