Spring was a very exciting season at Shippensburg University in the 1970s and 80s. With each spring came the annual "Spring Fling" gala, an outdoor rock concert, which was hosted by Sigma Pi. The gala became such a huge event that by the 10th Annual Spring Fling in 1982, college students from all over the country journeyed to Ship to enjoy the festivities!
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| This photo from the April 27, 1982 Slate shows attendees enjoying the Spring Fling |
To ensure that the 10th Annual Spring Fling would be the biggest and best yet, the event was advertised in newspapers in all of the big schools around the state. The Flashlight newspaper out of Mansfield (shown below) explains the details of the event. The Edge, Second Wind, and Great Train Robbery were the opening acts for the heavy-metal band KIX.
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| Example of an ad placed by the Ship chapter of Sigma Pi in the student newspapers across the state |
The bands who came to play the 10th annual gala were well-known artists who Sigma Pi hoped would draw in large crowds. The previous year had seen 7000 people in attendance and Sigma Pi hoped to up the number as much as possible.
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| Great Train Robbery was one of the bands who played at the Spring Fling |
The Spring Fling offered a day of relaxation, fun, and sunbathing before finals and the summer holiday began. However, with more people in attendance, crowd control posed more of an issue year after year. With growing concerns for student safety, the Spring Fling tradition was ended after the 10th year.
Want to learn more about Ship's history? No need to wait for the next Throwback Thursday! Contact Archives & Special Collections via e-mail: specialcollections@ship.edu or phone: 717-477-1516.
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