The Triangle

Issue date: 5/15/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: Zanne Ngatchou

Drexel students are always searching for a great party on a Saturday night. The place to be May 9 was Drexel's Spring Jam, which not only featured acts Girl Talk and Lupe Fiasco, but also helped students raise money for some worthy causes.

Held in the Daskalakis Athletic Center and preceded by a week of events, such as a performance by The Potted Plants and Drexel's Best Dance Group, this year's Spring Jam commenced its fun-filled week with a carnival of tarot card readers, temporary tattoos, rock climbing walls and more.

The carnival featured several student organizations and with 30 groups in total, they raised over $130,000 in the last six months for the cause they felt closest to from WePAC, which provides tutoring to West Philadelphia schools, to the National Kidney Foundation.

"We're encouraging organizations to raise money," Anubhuti Singh, director of traditions for the Campus Activities Board, said.

WKDU also played a large role in executing the event. The radio station not only kept the crowd dancing in between acts with hot '90s tracks like Blackstreet's "No Diggity" and Aaliyah's "Are You That Somebody," but also chose which bands performed and promoted the event.

"WKDU are the musical experts on campus, so it's good that CAB decided to include us to make it a complete experience for the student body," Tim Plunkett, Web administrator of WKDU, said.

The events began with sororities and fraternities battling it out in a talent show, featuring dances with a lot of laughs, to more traditional Greek strolls.

Drexel also took a few hints from "American Idol" by holding its own "Idol" competition with the winner not exactly leaving with a record contract, but an iPod.

The crowd was first introduced to a hip-hop and rock band called Wyld Lyfe and realized the band has some serious talent, which definitely gathered a larger crowd. The audience went even crazier for Girl Talk by dancing on the stage, having toilet paper, masks and water thrown on them - and even stage diving.

The man of the hour was of course, Fiasco, who chose to have his last show for the album with us. He treated the crowd with old favorites like "Kick, Push." Though I was among those not familiar with all of his music, the performance certainly made me want to learn more.

The purpose of Drexel's Spring Jam was certainly to raise money for noble causes, but to me it was much more than that. It was an experience of gathering with our friends, enjoying the music and celebrating our college days.

My only complaint that night was not catching a T-shirt.

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