The Hawk

Issue date: 10/3/07 Section: Entertainment

The Parkway is closed annually for the event.

The Ataris were a headlining band.

College students from all over the Philadelphia area gathered together Saturday, Sept. 29 for the annual Campus Philly Kick-Off, College Day on the Parkway. Each year, the Ben Franklin Parkway hosts a number of companies, organizations, and businesses hoping to attract students with free giveaways, contests, and samples while they enjoy free admission to area museums and live entertainment.

Local radio and television stations like Wired 96.5, the CW, and Y-Rock on XPN kept the Parkway alive while hundreds of students perused the booths and gathered up loads of new swag.

This year, huge blue bags could be seen for miles as IKEA proved to be a crowd favorite, giving away a nearly complete set of living room furniture and accessories. Many travel companies such as Contiki, STA Travel, and EF College Break attracted students with the promise of affordable travel or the opportunity to win a free trip. Starbucks was giving out free coffee, which gave students the extra pep they needed as they put their brains to the test in the Sudoku booth.

"I thought they had a lot of diverse companies that students would be interested in," said Colleen McGrath, '08. "They all had free handouts and raffles, which is always fun."

Some of the booths on the Parkway were giving away knowledge rather than freebies. Supporters of presidential candidates like Barack Obama handed out buttons and literature while environmental groups like the Fairmount Park System increased awareness about park services and a cleaner Philadelphia. Other groups, like youcandealwithit.com, Campus Door, Career Builder, Chase Student Loan, H&R Block, and Think Financial aimed to give students advice on the financial and career-based aspects of college and life after graduation.

Educational activities were also included in the festivities. Between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. students had the opportunity to visit a majority of Philadelphia's premier museums and galleries. Places such as The Academy of Natural Sciences, Eastern State Penitentiary, the Free Library of Philadelphia, the National Constitution Center, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Rodin Museum, Penn's Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, and others offered free admission to students.

"There were a lot of activities, but it was great that we got the chance to visit lots of wonderful museums for free," said Megan Williams, '10. "It may have been a bit overwhelming because of the amount of activity, but that was a good thing."

The live entertainment this year included freestyle skateboarding, motocross, and bands on two stages. One end of the parkway was devoted to the Philadelphia music scene, allowing local bands like Trouble Everyday and Jealousy Curve to showcase their talent.

At the other end of the Parkway was the main stage where this year's lineup had something for everyone. Veteran rockers The Ataris took the stage first, playing to a crowd that consisted mostly of loyal fans who have supported the band since their high school days.

"Seeing The Ataris for the first time in a long time was awesome," said Lindsay Kerins, a senior from Immaculata University. "But it was also nice to have a local stage so we got to see the awesome bands Philadelphia has to offer."

Upbeat newcomers Against Me! played a lively set that pumped the crowd up for rap artist Talib Kweli who closed out the day with an energetic set that brought down the house.

The choice of bands may have been right on par, but for some, the overall experience of College Day could have been better.

"It wasn't as good as the one our freshmen year," said Kristen Caiazzo, a senior at Arcadia University. "Maybe it was because it was so new for us, but I feel like they took things away as well. The Franklin Institute wasn't free for us this year, and one year they gave out free pretzels and Rita's. If the point of it was to save college students money, then why are they charging $6 for chicken fingers? There have definitely been better."

But the overall consensus seemed to be an agreeable one. Many St. Joe's students took advantage of the free transportation to and from the Parkway provided by the Student Union Board. Although Saint Joseph's was not officially represented with a booth like LaSalle, Temple, and Villanova, the Hawk Spirit was definitely in full force on the Parkway.

For more information on Campus Philly and College Day on the Parkway, visit www.campusphilly.org.

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