Spring has finally sprung at UAF, as was evident by last weekend's Springfest festivities.

Traditionally students refer to the event as Case Day, a celebration of warm weather that gives the daring and drunk an excuse to consume an entire case of 24 beers in 24 hours. The event has taken on the more responsible title of Springfest and has expanded to include activities that help the community.

Springfest kicked off April 27 in front of Gruening with hot dogs, hamburgers and seating outside. The event was complete with a DJ and the Going Greek Club sponsored pie-throwing fundraiser for the Fairbanks Rescue Mission.

Some students opted to improve the look of campus, which is littered with garbage. An exchange student from Wisconsin, Kenzie Payne, spent Friday morning picking up litter around campus. She said she cleans up every spring at home and enjoys spring-cleaning.

Emily Hemenway felt that her money was well spent on throwing a pie at a firefighter. "Because he dumped me and he is a smart ass," she said, insisting that it was all in good fun, adding, "but we're still friends."

The weather was a little colder than last year, but many students still donned shorts and tank tops as if the summer clothing would somehow summon warmer weather. It was windy, yet students still made the best of the sunny weather. The mud volleyball tournament was in full force.

One team was decked out in T-shirts promoting Lottanobooza, a program to discourage binge drinking on campus. Between games, students gathered in big white tents around heaters to warm up from the cold mud.

Many commented that the mud was better than last year. The mud volleyball tournament champions made a portable hot tub of muddy water in the back of a pickup lined with a tarp.

After the mud volleyball tournament, the party was at the Cutler Apartments, where the tradition varied a little because, unlike years past, everyone was required to wear wristbands that identified them as residents, guests, and whether or not they were over 21.

The parking lot was cleared for another volleyball net and the courtyard had a tent and food. In the mid afternoon, people were outside, eating and drinking. As the afternoon wore on, their steps became more staggered.

Underage drinkers were still present, but they practiced discretion. One underage drinker, keeping in the Case Day tradition, helped himself keep track of his alcohol consumption with a T-shirt that had pictures of 24 glasses of beer. Every time he drank one, he crossed off a beer.

The attire of some others celebrating spring might have seemed a bit strange. Some wore jeans and sweatshirts for the windy weather, but others dressed in outrageous '80s clothing that included neon tights and flashy headbands.

At 8 p.m. Friday night, Mad Chad Taylor performed chain saw juggling in the Hess Recreation Center. The audience was receptive but a little distracted. Several people played Assassin with squirt guns while they watched, and others heartily suggested Chad juggle a bear trap.

On Saturday, students were treated to a small free carnival at Beluga field complete with another free barbeque, music and giant balloon and bungee entertainment. There were a mechanical bull, sumo wrestling costumes, horseshoes, and other games.

Whether it was about drinking or community awareness, it's safe to say that after a winter's worth of studying, UAF students enjoyed cutting loose at Springfest 2006.