Students Savor Springfest Despite Injuries

It was all fun and games until someone got hurt.

On Saturday Harvard students were treated to a new kind of Springfest: rather than high-priced bands, they got the chance to let loose, be silly, slide down two-story slides, play in an inflatable castle and joust with their best friends.

Was it magic? In a way, yes. The five friendly employees from Magic World, an entertainment company Shrewsbury, Mass. who manned the inflatable park in the Mac Quad said the amusements are generally safe and low maintenance--so safe that several were attendedonly by members of the Undergraduate Council.

In the boxing ring, students used oversizedcushioned gloves to pummel each other whilebouncing on the inflated platform.

At about 4 p.m., the fun stopped when a faultyglove slashed the forehead of an unlucky reveler.

The student was taken from Springfest onstretcher by University Health Services, his headwrapped in white gauze.

According to Paul Harter, the Magic Worldemployee overseeing the rides at Springfest,protective helmets were provided for each ride.When council members tested each of the rides inthe morning, the helmets were at the boxing ring.

Council Vice-President Samuel C. Cohen '00 tookover the boxing ring at noon.

"From the time I started doing it at noon,there wasn't any head gear," Cohen said. "No onestopped it."

Harter said this is the first time in a yearand a half that an injury has occurred under hissupervision.

"We have our guys walking around making surethat everything is safe," Harter said.

Ryan Dorris '00, the council member in chargeof the rides said that several were initiallyrejected because the council deemed them unsafe.

"Our first concern is to make sure everyone isall right," Dorris said, adding that a risk isinvolved any time there are carnival rides. "Thisis the safest carnival I've ever been to."

In addition to the accident with the boxingglove, one student was injured on the "BungeeRun," for which participants wear harnessesattached to bungee cords then try to run as fastand far as they can.

One student hit his face with his Knees, andbroke his nose.

Council members and Magic World employeesattributed this accident to over enthusiasm.

Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III said thatalthough the injuries were due to oversight bythose operating the rides, the council might haveto avoid the risk in future Springfests.

"It's clear we're going to have to review theseevents and some of them are not going to be heldagain," Epps said

In the boxing ring, students used oversizedcushioned gloves to pummel each other whilebouncing on the inflated platform.

At about 4 p.m., the fun stopped when a faultyglove slashed the forehead of an unlucky reveler.

The student was taken from Springfest onstretcher by University Health Services, his headwrapped in white gauze.

According to Paul Harter, the Magic Worldemployee overseeing the rides at Springfest,protective helmets were provided for each ride.When council members tested each of the rides inthe morning, the helmets were at the boxing ring.

Council Vice-President Samuel C. Cohen '00 tookover the boxing ring at noon.

"From the time I started doing it at noon,there wasn't any head gear," Cohen said. "No onestopped it."

Harter said this is the first time in a yearand a half that an injury has occurred under hissupervision.

"We have our guys walking around making surethat everything is safe," Harter said.

Ryan Dorris '00, the council member in chargeof the rides said that several were initiallyrejected because the council deemed them unsafe.

"Our first concern is to make sure everyone isall right," Dorris said, adding that a risk isinvolved any time there are carnival rides. "Thisis the safest carnival I've ever been to."

In addition to the accident with the boxingglove, one student was injured on the "BungeeRun," for which participants wear harnessesattached to bungee cords then try to run as fastand far as they can.

One student hit his face with his Knees, andbroke his nose.

Council members and Magic World employeesattributed this accident to over enthusiasm.

Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III said thatalthough the injuries were due to oversight bythose operating the rides, the council might haveto avoid the risk in future Springfests.

"It's clear we're going to have to review theseevents and some of them are not going to be heldagain," Epps said