The Red Rhino Fund – Photo Courtesy of Robert Falcetti.
On Saturday, April 26, the Red Rhino Fund hosted the annual Spring Fling up at the Watertown Golf Club, an event loved by many in the Taft community. As soon as Tafties finished their athletic contests for the day, it was straight to preparations for the occasion. Similar to sit-down dinner, there were last-minute scrambles to find dresses to borrow from friends; students ran between floors and dorms to find the perfect outfit. In typical Connecticut fashion, the on-and-off downpouring rain tried to spoil everyone’s day, and had many scared for their freshly-styled hair. Like the Winter Formal held in February, girls of all ages piled into Voge Hallway for photos well before buses headed up the road.
Inside the Watertown Golf Club, the usual ducking and diving under iPhone cameras and people’s outstretched arms made what was an already small space feel even smaller. If that wasn’t enough, more pictures were taken upon arriving at the Golf Club, this time by Mr. Falcetti, who directed traffic with his high-quality camera and knowledge of the right angles and proper lighting for a great pic. Like any Taft event, a DJ was at the top of the dance floor, urging people to start dancing through a mix of trending and throwback songs.
Yet, the real question remains: Is Spring Fling Better than Winter Formal? The two are constantly compared to each other, despite being completely different Taft events. While two people cannot speak for all, we interviewed sophomores Ellie Taylor and Julia Antonucci to hear what they had to say in terms of which event they liked more.
Ellie: “I think I like Spring Fling more than Formal because with it being practically on campus, you have more freedom for when you can come and go. Even though Formal had the bigger venue and more activities, it is nice to be able to leave and/or come to Spring Fling whenever you would like.”
Julia: “I enjoy Formal more because of the lead-up to it. The asks are more fun to make and watch, and being able to shop for a dress [compared to wearing what you would for sit down] is part of it all too. I also think that with Formal, being able to have a sit-down dinner is easier than thinking about having to either eat before or after the event, like you do with Spring Fling.”
With the school year winding down, Spring Fling is a great event that brings the Taft community together while supporting organizations in the greater Waterbury area by providing them with all proceeds. Even though it occurs during most people’s least favorite season, Winter Formal tends to be the “big thing” that keeps people excited while trying to get through the bitter, long New England winters. Surely, each person in the Taft community could think of pros and cons for both events, whether on their own or compared to the other. But regardless of the good, bad, or season of the year, students and faculty make both events worthwhile by indulging in each other’s company. After hearing arguments for both sides, what staple Taft function do you think is better?
