Home > Student Life > KPB hosts ‘Spring Meltdown’ April 15-25
KPB hosts ‘Spring Meltdown’ April 15-25
BY KENDRA RICHARDS
STATESMAN STAFF WRITER
ISSUE: 78/27
KENDRA RICHARDS / STATESMAN
Students Hayley Swenson, Karissa Hatten and
Peter Youngbauer made their own tie-dyed
shirts at Tuesday’s Spring Meltdown event
titled “Dye Day.”
The Kirby Program Board (KPB) kicked off their Spring Meltdown this week, which will offer nonstop, stress-free events for students through Saturday, April 24. “We were planning on having a big concert for the students in the spring, and we realized we had a few events surrounding that date,” said Chelsey Macik, KPB assistant coordinator. “With this, we decided to add more events and get every chair of the board involved, which became the invention of KPB Spring Meltdown.”
Macik said the name pertains to the end of the year, the melting of the snow and everyone getting ready for the spring season. “We, as a board, hope this can continue to be an annual occurrence and think it will be a great time for students to be involved, see what the Kirby Program Board really has to offer for them, all the while providing some fun and relaxing times away from school work,” said Macik.
The meltdown started Tuesday, April 15, with a “Dye Day” in front of the UMD bookstore from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., where students could tie-dye a shirt for free. On Wednesday, April 16, the “Heads vs. Feds Marijuana
Lecture” took place in the Kirby Ballroom at 7:30 p.m., where Steve Hager, the former editor-in-chief of High Times magazine, debated Bob Stutman, a 25-year veteran of the Drug Enforcement Agency, about the legalization of marijuana. “The ‘Heads vs. Feds’ debate has taken place at college campuses across the country,” said the KPB Web site. “It is an interactive event, completely driven by student questions on the issues of legalization of marijuana.”
With two days of Meltdown behind us, there is still a lot to look forward to. Here is the rest of the Spring Meltdown schedule:
Saturday, April 19—Meltdown Indoor
Carnival and special showing of Juno The carnival will be taking place in the Romano Gymnasium from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. According to the KPB Web site, there will be “fun, games, prizes, food and inflatables, all for FREE!”
Also, Saturday evening will bring a special free showing of the movie “Juno” at 7 p.m. in the Romano Gymnasium. “What sets this movie apart from the others is that it will be shown on a huge blown-up screen about 40 feet by 20 feet,” said Nathan Guimont, KPB film chair. “Bring a blanket.”
Sunday, April 20—Ben Folds Ben Folds is performing at 7 p.m. in the Romano Gymnasium with special guest Ben Lee.
According to the KPB Web site, the show starts at 7 p.m., but the doors will open at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $5 for students and $15 for the general public if you buy them ahead of time. The day of the show, tickets will be $15 for students and $20 for the general public. Students must have U Cards at the door.
Monday, April 21—Detox and Hip Hop
An event called “Detox,” full of free massages, healthy snacks and an oxygen bar, will take place in the Kirby lounge from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., said Macik. “It will be a relaxing event to put some ease to the aftermath of the weekend,” said Cory Cavegn, publicity director for KPB.
Also on Monday, there will be a free Hip Hop Night in the Rafters at 8 p.m., which will feature JMB Peach, DJ School, Society Scars and White or Wheat, according to Macik.
Thursday, April 22—Mason Jennings
Another Spring Meltdown concert will feature Mason Jennings in the Kirby Ballroom at 9 p.m. on Thursday. “Singer/songwriter Mason Jennings blends the deeply personal insights of a poet, the political broadsides of a protest singer and the broad musical eclecticism of a jazz musician with the passion and commitment of a rock & roller,” said the KPB Web site. “The result has made him one of the most talked-about new artists on the acoustic music scene and earned him a loyal cult following, moving over 30,000 copies of his first two albums and selling out shows around the country.”
According to the Web site, the show starts at 9 p.m., but doors will open at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at www.etix.com, and cost $5 for UMD students and $25 for the general public. Students must have their U Cards at the door.
Friday, April 23 and Saturday, April 24—Darfur
Spring Meltdown will come to a close with two free showings of the movie “Darfur Now,” at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and 9 p.m. on Saturday. “It’s an examination of the genocide in Sudan’s western region of Darfur, and free popcorn and pop will be provided,” said Macik.
For more information on Spring Meltdown events, visit the KPB Web site.
