The madness that is Floatopia...

Today marks a glorious day in UCSB/Isla Vista tradition. Every year, during the start of Spring quarter, a little event called Floatopia is held on the beach adjacent to UCSB. The origin of Floatopia isn't certain (some accounts range all the way back to 1982), but I read somewhere that it was started not by some inebriated college students who thought it would be fun to just float around and get smashed in the Pacific Ocean, but by some engineering students who built a platform and brought it to the ocean along with a few kegs of beer.

Floatopia, a portmanteau word that merges 'float' and 'utopia' together, is a day where Isla Vistans, students of UCSB, and many others who come flocking from cities up North and down South come together and do what Santa Barbara is known for: partying and getting drunk. This loosely organized tradition of forgetting any responsiblities as you float around with a beer in hand has been growing every year. According to the Floatopia 2007 event page on Facebook, over 2,000 students attended. This year, over 9,000 people RSVPed, and by the looks of it, I am pretty sure that not a single person flaked out on the invitation.

Ironically, Floatopia is often held during the day of Spring Insight, where thousands of prospective UCSB freshmen and their parents descend upon the University to take tours of the campus, explore academic departments, and visit the Housing Fair to get a first hand look at the UCSB experience. Little do they know that they will be getting a first hand look at what it really is like to be a student here at UCSB.

Although Floatopia may make UCSB seem like it is really living up to its reputation of being a party school, it does show that students know how to let off steam before the stress of midterms and piles of homework/reading come rolling around.

Despite of the fact that the aftermath of this madness will probably be a beach littered with empty beer cans and popped floats, there will be, in true environmental SB fashion, a beach cleanup tomorrow by those who partake in this madness. Even though Floatopia is not as big of a tradition as Halloween is here in Santa Barbara, it still is an amazing sight to see. Judging by my visit to the beach today and the noise I hear from inside my dorm room situated right next to the beach, it does seem like a utopia for college students. Who knows-- maybe next year my friends and I will buy a raft and join in on the fun.