By By Eric Allen, News Staff

What’s that on the calendar? It’s a scavenger hunt! It’s a concert! It’s Springfest! (A superhero-themed Springfest, to be exact.)
The Council for University Program’s (CUP) annual week-long series of events is officially titled ‘Springfest to the Rescue” and will kick off Sunday, March 29. This year, Springfest will include events like a scavenger hunt, an obstacle course and karaoke.
The week begins with an obstacle course at 1 p.m. called ‘Springfest Returns:’ The Obstacle Course of Good v. Evil,’ which will stretch through the campus’ four quads. Each station of the course will be villain-themed and participants will take on the role of the heros. The winning team can expect a prize. Students can sign up on Facebook or on the CUP website to participate, which goes for all the week’s other events. Later, at 7 p.m., WRBB and CUP are hosting a Rock Band tournament in afterHOURS. Champions will receive a prize at this event, too.
Monday will feature a real-life superhero, Eric Frankenberg,’ a sophomore music industry major and Springfest chair, said. Presented by CUP, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Husky Athletics and Delta Zeta, New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi will speak in Blackman Auditorium at 8 p.m. about the stroke he suffered and his time with the NFL. Tickets will be $5 and every student is allowed to bring one guest. Tickets will go on sale on a date that is yet to be determined.
‘We wanted to get someone who exemplifies the superhero attitude,’ Frankenberg said. ‘We picked Tedy Bruschi, because not only is he an athlete, but he also survived a stroke and continues to inspire people.’
On Tuesday, March 31, a ‘Rescue the Damsel in Distress’ scavenger hunt will have teams of four running campus-wide for a prize at the end. Frankenberg said more details will come upon sign-up.
The Resident Student Association (RSA) and CUP will hold a barbecue on centennial quad Wednesday, April 1 from noon to 1 p.m. with WRBB pumping jams. After the free food, a concert will rock afterHOURS. Details for the concert haven’t been confirmed, so check the CUP website, www.cup.neu.edu, for updates.
Presented by CUP and Kinematix, ‘America’s Best Dance Crew’ winners Super Cr3w, NU Student Dance Groups and local professional dance groups will take the Blackman stage Thursday, April 2 at 7 p.m. Tickets are free and will be available on a to-be-announced date.
Students will have to wait just a little longer to find out who’s performing at the final concert. It will begin at 7 p.m. April 4 and will feature two co-headlining acts and a DJ spinning tunes before and in between sets. CUP will release more details about the performers in a future issue of The News.
‘Students can expect to get their minds blown [by the concert],’ said Nani Stoick, a junior and Springfest concert chair. ‘The past two years have been rap ‘- everybody was ready for rock. This is going to be one of the biggest shows Matthews has ever seen.’
That night, students can sing their hearts out in afterHOURS for Super Karaoke at 11 p.m.
There will be a community service day on Sunday, April 5, sponsored by CUP and the Husky Energy Action Team (H.E.A.T.). Called ‘Be a Hero,’ the day will feature a trash pickup and limited edition T-shirts inspired by Captain Planet for students who volunteer.
‘We’ve never had a community service event,’ Frankenberg said. ‘It works so well with the superhero theme.’
CUP has been trying to increase community service all year, and it was a committee decision that Springfest focus on going green, Frankenberg said. Tables manned by co-sponsors of Springfest will offer brochures about going green and charities, and banners are printed on green materials.
As always, different thematic T-shirts will be available at events throughout the week, but this time with graphics inspired by heroes like Superman and Spiderman, Frankenberg said.
‘Based on what I’ve seen in the past, I think the involvement is going to be huge,’ Frankenberg said. ‘The events are going to reach out to new audiences we don’t always reach out to.’