Temple U., Philadelphia, cancels Spring Fling, cites drinking PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Temple University's annual Spring Fling celebration, a decades-long tradition, has been canceled because of pervasive drinking, the Philadelphia school said. After the 2013 Spring Fling, the third Wednesday of April, was marred by drinking and a West Chester University student, Ali Fausnaught, 19, fell to her death at an off-campus house, officials at the school decided to end the event, the campus newspaper The Temple News reported Tuesday. The decision came after a series of meeting of high-level school administrators during the summer, the newspaper added. The event has "been hijacked by a group of people that make this into a bacchanal, a drinking fest," said university President Neil Theobald. Spring Fling's original intent was to showcase performances and student organizations, the newspaper said. "This used to be an event that seemed to have a real benefit to the college community," but has been "transformed into something where students perceive it as an excuse to drink, and a drinking holiday," said Stephanie Ives, Temple's dean of students.