Spring has reluctantly come, and with it the promise of the annual Carleton/St. Olaf Spring Concert on Saturday, May 5, an event many students look forward to with an excitement that seems to build as each concert approaches. Whether it be the jump across the river into Wet Campus land, the sound of live musical talent, or the masses of scantily-clad folks, there is something about this event that makes many students cling to the hope that they are experiencing a reincarnation of Woodstock.

Maybe that's just because most Oles call Spring Concert 'Arbstock,' a name that got attached years ago. Intercampus Liaison Dave Beck explains, "St. Olaf, trying to be cool at the time, started throwing 'stock' on the end of anything they could get their hands on. Carleton can't really understand why we call it that; for them it would be like calling our Fall Concert 'Skogstock.'"

Regardless of what you decide to call it, the bands that have been booked by the committee will sound the same (extremely good). Each year Carleton and St. Olaf collaborate for two concerts, one in the fall and the other in the spring. Beck stresses that although the concert may be on Carleton grounds, it is just as much St. Olaf's, since both schools plan and fund it: "We're going in it 100% fifty-fifty. The only advantage one campus has is that it's hosting it."

Since Carleton is the host and has a more flexible drinking policy than St. Olaf, the rules for drinking at the concert are different than they would be here, meaning those over 21 can drink. "That's the fine line that's walked every year," says Beck. "It's not on the St. Olaf campus, but it's a St. Olaf sponsored event." The rain site is in Skoglund, however, so if the concert needs to be moved to St. Olaf, obviously there will be no drinking allowed for any age.

There have been many rumors that wristbands will be introduced this year, but according to Beck, "There's not going to be wristbands. No way." He also said that police presence is unlikely, but should not be dismissed as a possibility.

The music begins at noon, but be sure to keep in mind that all the following start times are tentative. The first act will be a Carleton campus band, "Gratuitous Um Laut." Following them at 1:00 will be the winner of St. Olaf's Battle of the Bands, "Jamestown."

Mason Jennings, a favorite of both schools, will play at 2:00. Jennings, a local artist that is becoming more national, has been described as singing with the voice of an old man, and playing with a globally reaching sound. He is followed by those who listen to many different styles of music- pop, rock, folk, hip-hop, and punk. In 1999 he won three awards at the Minnesota Music Awards, including Best Folk Artist and Best New Artist.

"Fresh Squeez," another local act, will be at 3:00. These artists form an energetic hip-hop act that has also been called an all-star freestyle orchestra and as well as jazz improv.

Finally, at 4/4:30, "Reel Big Fish" is scheduled to perform. "Reel Big Fish" is made up of six guys from Huntington Beach, California. It's a nationally-known, punk-influenced ska band with a great sense of humor, evident from some of the titles of their songs: "Why Do All Girls Think They're Fat," "I Want Your Girlfriend to Be My Girlfriend Too," "Beer," and "I'm Cool." They have been included on two movie soundtracks, "BASEketball" and "Welcome to Woop Woop."

Spring Concert evolved from Carleton's Mai Fete pageants that started before WWI and reached the height of their popularity in the 1920s and '30s. The pageant was an elaborate ceremony that focused on the crowning of the May Queen and always drew hundreds of spectators. It continued until the 1950's, but eventually became a weekend arts festival and then a concert of student bands.

St. Olaf used to have some sort of spring concert itself (the details are hard to come by) before the two colleges joined together to have one Spring Concert.

In the history of the concert, there were many obstacles and well as many successes. According to the Messenger archives, even in the early 1980s students (though probably not as many) were excited for the concert, especially since the previous years had been successful. In 1985, the fate of the concert was uncertain since Carleton had been experiencing numerous problems with it. Both colleges and their insurance companies decided in 1987 that kegs would be allowed, but another 1987 article states that kegs were banned and a beer garden was proposed.

The concert was cancelled in 1988 because of conflicting dates and late planning efforts, creating a controversy between the two schools about which one was to blame.

In 1989, the organizers wanted to shift the social atmosphere from drinking to music, sporting events, and food. This may have resulted from insurance conflicts concerning the concert's alcohol rules that were an issue that same year. Conflicting schedules between Carleton and St. Olaf again caused trouble in 1991, but St. Olaf put on a concert of its own instead, and two years later, both schools crossed the river when St. Olaf, not Carleton, hosted the concert.

Despite all the unpredicted changes that occurred in the past, for the most part the concert has always been a success. Of course, there are always things that can be done to ensure that problems don't arise.

First and foremost, DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE. The Intercampus Committee will be sponsoring free shuttle busses that run to the Arb from 11:30 a.m.- 6:30 p.m., so all students have a safe and reliable way to make it to the concert.

The concert committee is also asking that people clean up their own trash and recyclables. Last year, all the Oles left and students from Carleton ended up cleaning up everything. This hampers relations between the two colleges, and leaving your trash everywhere is just plain disgusting anyway.

Some other things to keep in mind: there is no glass allowed under any circumstances (you will be turned away by a professional security service), and there are also no kegs allowed.

Besides the free transportation, there will also be first aid available, free water and pop/soda, and cheap food such as hot dogs, hamburgers, and vegetarian choices. The administration from both schools will be cooking the food.

As for the weather, it sounds like it will be cooperative - the high is projected at 70 degrees, with partly cloudy skies and a 20% chance of precipitation.

So- there should be no excuses not to attend this fine celebration of spring. Be there. That's really all that's left to say.