On this beautiful, 70 degree thursday afternoon, the Baruch plaza was filled with hundreds–maybe thousands–of Baruch students craning their necks, squeezing tense feet into the tiniest spaces on any elevated platform they can find. It was 2 o’clock, the egg yolk sun dangling overhead. An pulsing energy of anticipation streamed through the young adults as they waited for the highlight of the day to walk out of the glass doors.
The 2013 Spring Fling was quite different than the previous years’, considering Baruch recently received permission from the city to close off 24th street to open up a new plaza, open to the public. Dotted with a maze of freshly planted flowers in pots and blossoming trees and movable tables and chairs, the plaza creates a much-needed open space for Baruch students to chill out from their hectic school and work schedules. Throw in a ferris wheel, a free-snow-cone booth, face painters, clowns, water-gun race booth, and a carved watermelon that spells “Baruch,” and you’ve got the 2013 Spring
Fling Carnival. Oh, and not to mention, they brought in Jojo as the guest singer, along with DJ Bluto.
Yes. Jojo. Flashback to 2004: Remember Leave (Get Out) ? At just thirteen years old, she was the youngest solo artist to have a number one single in the U.S. Quite a bit has changed since the Too Little Too Late years. And Jojo definitely proved it as she strutted out in 5 inch black spike stilettos, washed out denim booty shorts with a big rip in the cheek, and a tiny bralette peeking out of an unbuttoned plaid shirt. The guys in the front were savoring every movement produced by “Translucent Brown Sugar,” as she refers to herself on Instagram. A picture she posted was captioned “straight out of the 90s”, referring to her outfit. The 22 year old opened with her most famous single as the crowd went wild, echoing the lyrics: “Get out, leave! Right now, it’s the end of you and me. It’s too late and I can’t wait for you to be gone…”
She continued on, belting out “Too Little Too Late,” “Baby it’s you,” and a cover of “Marvin’s Room” by Drake. A sea of smart phones lingered, each recording its own story.
It cost Baruch a total of $12,000 to have her perform at the plaza.
