Last week’s annual Spring Fling, hosted by the Gorham Events Board and Residential Life, went off without a hitch, providing not only merriment and general ribaldry for all involved, but also raising much-needed cash for Habitat for Humanity. The Spring Fling is held every year in Gorham, with events this time around including a casino night, jamfest featuring Paranoid Social Club, and culminating with a semi-formal dance and drag show. The semi-formal, held annually for the past four years, is traditionally a charity event, designed specifically as a vehicle through which the Gorham Events Board may raise funds for a chosen cause. This year’s cause was Habitat for Humanity. According to Stephanie Lineman, chair of the semi-formal committee, funds raised for the charity topped $700-the most money raised from this event to date. The event also garnered the biggest turnout so far, with 77 students attending, most of whom reported having a great time, according to Lineman. “I’ve heard from a lot of students that it was the best semi-formal they’ve attended yet,” a statement reinforced by the fact that the committee “had to turn on lights and shut off music to get the last students to leave.”
On the last night of the Spring Fling, a drag show was held at the Student Center in Gorham. Male and female competitors strutted their stuff, with one of the highlights being a fully choreographed rendition of Thriller, complete with backup dancers and an eerily authentic Michael Jackson, as brought to life by Mia Perrone. A professional drag queen named Diveena stole the spotlight, belting out lines like “Straight? So is spaghetti before you boil it!” According to Sara Treible, Upton-Hastings Hall resident director and one of the judges for the event, Diveena “really bent the gender roles. Her outfit showed a bare chest and it was the natural bare chest.” Perrone went away with the crown as drag king, while Stephen Trumble came away with the tiara for his performance as Sofanda Cox.
The purpose of the Spring Fling, according to Student Activities Specialist Jennell Carter, is to raise money so that the Gorham Events Board will have more resources to throw similar events in the future.
Said Carter, “[Spring Fling] is basically a weekend of events for students to go out and have a good time, enjoying what the campus has to offer.” Between a newly crowned drag king and queen and a record-breaking fundraiser, it seems safe to say that, this time around, the Spring Fling’s mission has been accomplished.