LOVE

1. Ellie Goulding: I’d be starry-eyed if the British folktronica artist were our W.I.L.D. artist. She can do both acoustic and pop music, so she’d be the best. Believe me.

2. Best Coast: Yes, they were just here, but what better way to signal that summer is near than with the summer-iest band ever? Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno’s surf pop would be perfect for the last day of classes.

3. Fleetwood Mac: Though slightly old-school, this would be hilarious and awesome. Everyone would enjoy shouting along to “Go Your Own Way” and “Landslide.”

4. Lykke Li: Li is a Swedish songstress with an amazing voice and not too big of a national profile. Her song “Rich Kids Blues” might as well be Wash. U.’s national anthem.

5. Azealia Banks: This is more of a prediction than a wish, but Banks is an up-and-coming rapper who fits the profile of the ideal W.I.L.D. opener better than anyone else I can imagine. It helps that “212” is one of the catchiest rap songs in recent memory.

6. Lana Del Rey: The “best lips in indie” according to the blog Hipster Runoff, Del Rey is one of the most polarizing figures in music today. She definitely couldn’t suck as bad as Mike Posner did. She’d probably be legendary.

7. Sleigh Bells: These pioneers of noise pop stopped by the Firebird last year, and they are releasing a new record this year. But Team 31 should still go after them, because you can’t find a better mix of slamming guitars and catchy pop vocals.

NOT-SO-LOVE

1. Linkin Park: Do I even have to explain this? I don’t know a single person who admits to liking Linkin Park any way other than ironically.

2. Foster the People: Disclaimer: I don’t like Foster the People, but I think their live show is great. But if I ever heard “Pumped Up Kicks” again, my brain would melt. Also, no one has ever heard their other stuff.

3. Fleetwood Mac: This would be hilarious but not in an awesome way. (OK, I can’t make up my mind about this one.) Nobody would actually enjoy “Go Your Own Way,” because nobody wants to admit to liking our parents’ music. Also, “Landslide” is too close to home for us.

4. Flo Rida: He is responsible for every overplayed, awful song on the radio, and he sucks at rapping. This might not be true, but he’s a good scapegoat. If I’m forced to hear “Right Round” again, my head will spin right off.

5. 3OH!3: Once upon a time, 3OH!3 was good. And then people discovered them, and then they kept on doing the same thing, and slowly it went from catchy to annoying to awful. Please keep the Denver natives in the 303, not the 314.

As a freshman, I had no idea what to expect, yet my expectations were blown away by what W.I.L.D. actually was. Before going to the concert, I ventured into a frat for the first time at this school. All I found was about five girls dancing to Katy Perry’s “California Gurls.” At that moment, I began to question W.I.L.D.’s reputation and thus my expectations began to plummet. After my friends and I decided to leave, we ended up at a crowded frat. My expectations began to rise. But that frat got really boring really quickly and ended with the sounding of the fire alarm. That’s when my expectations reached their low. Sometime later, I ended up back on my floor, debating whether or not W.I.L.D. was worth the energy, but I eventually decided to initiate myself into the Wash. U. W.I.L.D. culture.

While I was traversing the underpass, I found myself staring at the hordes of people walking toward Brookings. My skepticism began to fade away. Never had my adrenaline begun to rush so quickly. As soon as I entered Brookings Quadrangle, I immediately felt deaf from the combination of shouting, laughter and music, but everything was wonderfully overwhelming. I rushed from place to place, meeting upperclassmen, freshmen I hadn’t seen since Multicultural Weekend, my friends and about a million other people. The atmosphere was just amazing. I ended up in a mosh pit singing songs and watching friends dance whom I would never have expected to dance.

The energy in the air was contagious. I have never felt more a part of the Wash. U. culture. For the first time, I was able to rock out with all of my peers instead of just seeing them in six hours of classes. I felt closer to my classmates, even without ever meeting them. W.I.L.D. was liberating and exciting. Nothing can beat talking to drunk people, so an organized cluster of them is even better.

Whoever said nerds don’t know how to party, has obviously never been to Wash. U.’s W.I.L.D.

Many students had speculated that since W.I.L.D. was being held earlier than usual this year, and freshmen access to fraternity houses has been limited, the lack of experience with drinking would lead to an increase in alcohol-related incidents. This was not the case.

WUPD received four calls about intoxicated students on the South 40. One of the four students had to be taken to the hospital.

This is a decrease from last year, when WUPD received 16 calls on the day of W.I.L.D., two of which may not have been alcohol related. Three students were sent to the hospital, and one was seriously injured.

The number of incidents occurring before 7 p.m. also fell drastically. Last year, eight incidents were reported before 7 p.m. This year there were only three.

Police patrols stepped up efforts to control disturbances off-campus in nearby neighborhoods such as Rosedale. Parties in that area were kept under control and many neighbors emailed Director of Police Don Strom on Saturday and Sunday to thank him for his support.

According to Strom, this decrease may have to do with the fact that fall W.I.L.D. was held on a Friday instead of a Saturday this year.

Strom believes that due to the change, students had other obligations to meet before they could start partying.

“In my 11 years of experience with the University, my sense is that there’s less risky behavior that we deal with on Friday night W.I.L.D. than on a Saturday night W.I.L.D.,” he said. “The focus on classes and other activities during the day leading up to W.I.L.D. limits the pre-partying that occurs.”

The Good

Students danced, sang along to mash-ups of popular songs and chilled with their friends.

“It was fun, not necessarily because of the people playing, but that people there were in the mood to have fun. It didn’t really matter who was on stage,” freshman Luke Dobben said.

“I had a really fun time. I thought White Panda was phenomenal. I thought Mike Posner was good, but there’s always the challenge of having a headline artist live up to what people might hope they will be,” sophomore Josh Aiken said.

“It’s a good vibe in here, people seem happy and active. They’re not chill but upbeat,” senior Kate Benedict said.

The Bad

Some students were disappointed with Mike Posner, saying his performance was not good enough for him to headline W.I.L.D.

“I’m a senior, so I definitely think it’s the weakest W.I.L.D. I’ve been to, and attendance was low compared to other years…I thought Mike Posner was pretty bad and reactions to him were pretty negative,” senior Mariana Oliver said.

“It’s kind of weird to listen to music like that in a concert setting, but it’s W.I.L.D., so people had fun,” junior Matt Miller said.

“The main act was not what I would consider a good headliner. I left after two songs because he wasn’t good. A lot of people were at DAYGLOW which was a huge reason a lot of my friends left or didn’t go,” junior Brad Lewis said.

The Wild

This W.I.L.D. was matched with a number of unusual occurrences. The headliner kissed a member of the audience, a gigantic paint party called DAYGLOW took place just blocks away, and the power failed during Mike Posner’s performance.

Mike Posner pulled a woman on stage, gave her a giant teddy bear and kissed her on the mouth. “It was just weird. I thought that was very uncalled for,” Oliver said.

“It was interesting that DAYGLOW was the same day, and it didn’t seem as packed as it had been at past W.I.L.D.s, which was interesting,” Aiken said.

Where

The Pageant

When

Friday, 8 p.m.

Price

Sold Out

As you all know, W.I.L.D. is this Friday. There will be lots of pre-gaming, a musical act you may or may not have heard of and the majority of the Washington University student body wandering around the Quad. It’s a good Wash. U. bonding experience. But this year, W.I.L.D. coincides with DAYGLOW. Guess what? It’s another all-capitalized concert event featuring a musical act you may or may not have heard of, namely David Solano, Kevin Focus and SlantE. And this one isn’t free.

So why should you consider going to DAYGLOW instead of W.I.L.D.? Four words. World’s. Largest. Paint. Party. It’s not just a concert; there will be paint. Concert-goers wear all white and get barraged by paint cannons over the course of the night. And, what people tend not to mention, there is a veritable circus of aerial acts, stilt walkers, contortionists and fire. It’s like some psychedelic combination of Cirque de Soleil, a rave and that part of the Blue Man Group show where the paint is coming off of their drums. And this year, it’s in 3D, so you’ll be writhing around in multicolored paint wearing a pair of dorky-looking glasses while images jump out at you from screens all around you. Even the paint itself is 3D. Basically, you and your friends shouldn’t pregame too hard, because you’ll already feel a little bit drunk.

Chances are, you’ve already made your decision about whether to go to DAYGLOW or W.I.L.D. (or try to hit both). After all, DAYGLOW has been sold out for more than a week. But for me, the choice was easy. I get eight chances to check out W.I.L.D. over the course of my college years. DAYGLOW is here now. It’s different, it’s exciting, and it’s something I’ll be talking about for years.

Take a sip if:
-Someone complains about the act.
-A girl (or guy) is wearing a cut-off shirt.
-You pass a passed out freshman.
-You hear someone caring about the acts.
-You see PDA best left for the dorm room.
-Someone bitches about the food/lack thereof.
-Lines for the port-a-potties reach dangerous lengths.

Take a shot if:
-You see an upperclassman hooking up with a freshman, drunk or sober.
-Someone streaks through the crowd.
-Freshman with little to no dance skills “breaks it down hardcore, dude.”
-Someone brings a guitar.
-Jerk tries to play said guitar…while an act is performing.
-Freshman flocks are scattered across the quad.
-Drunken girl asks, “Have you seen my friend? She’s [incoherent babbling].”
-WUPD catches drunk boy pissing in the flowerbeds.

Drain the bottle if:
-WUPD catches drunk girl pissing in the flowerbeds.
-Freshmen take this opportunity to try out for the “other team.”
-People actually pay attention to one of the opening acts.
-No one applauds for “the Pose”.

To all those freshmen and sophomores currently below the drinking age, fear not. We recommend that you play this game with shots of espresso. Results will be surprisingly similar.

Scene met with Don Strom, Chief of Police of the Washington University Police Department, to discuss the work of the police and the procedure of custody. So for the student who thoughtlessly yells in University City during the wee hours, is involved in light treason or just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, here is a guide to getting arrested.

“The police’s job,” said Strom, “is to make a reasonable determination and gather the facts.” Strom considered several hypothetical scenarios, from underage drinking at W.I.L.D. to fake ID cards. In every case, Strom described the officer’s first action as a process of figuring out what exactly is happening. This decision is often made quickly, but does not always lead to taking a suspect into custody.

Here at Wash. U., for example, Strom asserted that the police issue more referrals to the judicial administrator than they do arrests. More complicated situations may require additional investigation than the officer’s immediate response. If the officer believes a crime has indeed happened, perhaps because of something the suspect says, the officer may decide to arrest the suspect.

Arrest occurs with probable cause, meaning, “a reasonable person has suspicion to believe the suspect has committed a crime.” A failed breathalyzer test would constitute probable cause, as would statements from the suspect like “I’m glad I killed the bastard.” The policeman’s job does not end here, though this is where television begins improvising. Officers on television frequently handcuff the suspects and begin reciting the lines “You have the right to remain silent…”

These rights, according to Strom, are some of the least understood. “What you see on TV is the shortened version, and it may contain a lot of myth,” he emphasized. “For your Miranda rights to apply, the suspect must be in custody and under interrogation for information that will be admissible in court. Some suspects will admit to something in the back of the police car, like ‘I should never have taken that LSD.’ If the officer didn’t ask about it, he’s free to submit that confession to the court.” Confusion about Miranda rights stymie the efforts of many trying to represent themselves in court. The police may collect information about the suspect, a process called booking, once the suspect has been brought to the police station. Information needed in booking includes the suspect’s name, date of birth, Social Security number, address, height, weight and physical characteristics like tattoos. This information is used to correctly identify the suspect, especially if the suspect claims an alias. Since this information will not be submitted to court to determine guilt, questions in booking do not fall under the Miranda rights. “Plenty of folks will claim they never had their Miranda rights read to them before being asked questions. They were never interrogated before Miranda, so their case falls apart,” Strom said.

The other staple of television includes the one phone call. As it turns out, there is no federal law mandating that call. “Some states have providence for contacting a lawyer or family. Mostly, the phone call is a reasonable accommodation to arrange bail or contact a lawyer or family.”

After the interrogation, during which the suspect has the right to remain silent, he or she may be sent to the county jail. There, the officers meet with a prosecutor. They review the material gathered by the police and present it to a judge. The judge then decides whether or not a warrant should be served. If so, the suspect is then served, usually while still in the county jail, and simultaneously notified of his or her bail. If stopped by the police, Strom recommends adopting a candid and open attitude. “Cooperation can go a long way,” Strom said. Those stickers in the library do not offer the best advice, either. “If you run from the police, you’ll probably get caught,” said Strom. “You’re resisting arrest, which is another charge. Plus, you’re trying to outrun technology. We can radio to other officers in the area, or use CCTV, for example.”

Above all, Strom wants students to remember that the police are a part of the same community as everyone else. “We’re all interested in the general safety of everyone, the police are there to enforce it,” he said.

Another thrifty way to avoid trashy drinks is to buy a box of Franzia, which also allows the infamous game of tipping the box. For flavor, Sunset Blush is unparalleled, but Chillable Red is barely drinkable. Keeping your Franzia cold is the easiest way to keep it tasty, so be sure to have a fridge large enough to fit a box of wine.

Now for some quick mixed drink suggestions. Since quantity is more important than quality for W.I.L.D., consider a pitcher or bucket to make your mixed drinks.

The mojito, a Cuban classic, is perfect for a sunny afternoon. Since you’ll be adding sugar, mint and lime, cut costs and buy the cheapest white rum possible. A good balance of cheapness and quality is Admiral Nelson’s. For every shot of rum add about a shot-and-a-half of club soda and a tablespoon of sugar. Three tablespoons of sugar is about the same as a sugar packet. Stir your bucket and serve. The mojito is traditionally served in a highball glass. Add a wedge of lime and a few mint leaves to taste. Voila! A drink Fidel Castro would approve.

Similar to the mojito bucket, a margarita bucket is a great south-of-the-border option for the concert. Stores have premade margarita buckets, but if you want to make your own, simply get a large bottle of margarita mix and a fifth of tequila. A fun alternative to margarita mix is Minute Maid frozen limeade. If you have a blender, add three or four cups of ice and pour in the label-suggested amount of margarita mix and tequila (generally two cups for every shot). As for tequila suggestions, I’m utterly convinced that Sterling Tequila is just bottled ipecac, so splurge a little here and purchase some Cuervo. Limes and salt are a necessity as well. Simply cut a slit in a lime, rub the lime around the rim of your glass, then flip the glass over and rub it on a salt-filled plate (or common room table). It’s almost as good as going to a bar.

After your W.I.L.D. or DAYGLOW experience, drink water as much as possible.

Happy drinking!

It would have been awesome to be a member of the Class of 2003…in terms of W.I.L.D., that is. With just one glance at the lineup they had during their four years at Washington University, anyone would be envious. In the spring of 2000, their freshman year, Outkast and Dispatch played. Then, in the fall of 2002 the Black Eyed Peas came, followed by Better Than Ezra in the spring of 2003.

OutKast’s quadruple-platinum fourth album “Stankonia” was released in Oct. 2000, only a few months after the hip-hop duo appeared at W.I.L.D. OutKast is one of the most successful hip-hop groups of all time. To be able to claim that you heard OutKast when they performed at your university would warrant major coolness points in my book. If only I could actually say that; too bad I was still in elementary school.

Better Than Ezra skyrocketed to number one on the charts with their first single “Good” in 1995. In the spring of 2003, the band’s most popular recent single would have been “Extra Ordinary” or “A Lifetime.” Their rock/alternative music was perfect for a spring W.I.L.D. That is not to mention their considerable discography that would have been even more popular to Wash. U. students.

If the Black Eyed Peas’ W.I.L.D. performance was anything like their performances today (think back to the Super Bowl), it must have been epic, to say the least. Why wasn’t I born a decade earlier to witness this performance?

However, it is worth noting that the Black Eyed Peas came to campus before they became the big music sensation they are today. Fergie had just joined the group in 2002, and their first hit single, “Where is the Love?” did not drop until 2003. This begs the question: Does time make the past W.I.L.D. acts seem larger than they really were? Team 31 has picked W.I.L.D. artists on the brink of success before. For example, take B.o.B (“Nothin’ on You,” “Airplanes”) who performed in the spring of 2009, a year before his debut album was released. From Grammys to MTV Video Music Awards to American Music Awards, B.o.B. has himself a true music career—and all of us who were here at Wash. U. for his W.I.L.D. performance got an early look at his talent.

The class of 2003’s W.I.L.D. experiences are something that, unfortunately, I will only be able to experience through stories passed down. Nonetheless, I’ve got my own W.I.L.D. experiences to pass on, and hopefully, in ten years, a Wash. U. student will envy the performers I have had the privilege of seeing.

Present: Are the acts worth coming to?

We have a feeling that all of you reading this probably have an idea of how you’re going to spend your W.I.L.D., but for those who’ve never done it before, here’s a blow-by-blow of the day’s official acts. Cadenza trusts you’ll be able to figure out what to do before the concert actually starts.

4 p.m.: Doors—It’s time to make the extraordinarily difficult walk all the way to the Brookings Quad. For those coming from faraway lands like Shepley or Greenway, be prepared. There’s no water in the quad. But once you make it, you get the fun experience of waiting in line and (possibly) getting patted down. Then it’s on to the glorious grassland.

4:15 p.m.: Battle of the Bands Winner—The Second Stage winner won’t be announced until tomorrow, because, well, the Battle of the Bands won’t happen until tomorrow. If you’ve already made it to the Quad, it’s time to enjoy the sounds of Rhyme N Reason, the Jake Bertons or the Greasy Watermelon. It’s also time to pray that the losing bands are able to accept defeat in peace instead of rebelling during the show.

4:45 p.m.: DJ Khizcuts—Also known as Khiz Munir, Washington University’s own DJ Khizcuts gets to take the stage now. Time to begin the DJ’d/mashup portion of the evening.

5:35 p.m.: OCD: Moosh & Twist!—This Philadelphia hip-hop duo has a weird name. Combining a mental disorder with two rap aliases makes me confused, but somehow it starts to make sense when we consider that the performers just graduated high school a few months ago. Remind me why we don’t just save money for one big act.

6 p.m.: Alcohol Cut-Off—This is the most important part of the night for those lucky, but late-coming, non-minors (majors? over-21ers?) Make sure you lug the six-pack before the dreaded deadline, or else that far, far walk was for nothing.

6:45 p.m.: The White Panda—Okay, the group may not be as cool as Super Mash Bros., but we take what we can get. It’s always a good experience to start singing along to your favorite song for five seconds, only to realize it’s disappeared from your auditory cortex before you actively recognize the song.

7:45 p.m.: 3lau—The second Wash. U. DJ of the night, 3lau, also known as Justin Blau, takes the stage. If you’re a little worn out by the recorded music, feel free to take this opportunity to “lie down.”

8:35 p.m.: Mike Posner—Although “Cooler Than Me” may be slightly less cool than the country’s biggest paint party, we have a leading act that people have actually heard of. If you’re still standing by 8:35 p.m., it’s time to enjoy the smooth sounds of the 2010 Duke graduate.

Top things you’ll wish you had known by W.I.L.D.

Your first W.I.L.D. is a learning experience. It’s like a tailgate, but there’s not much food…or a sporting event to follow. Instead of just learning the lessons yourself, listen to some advice that future-you will certainly want you to have known.

1. From far away, it’s acceptable to think that Mike Posner looks like Justin Timberlake. Less acceptable? Shouting that he looks like a JT bobblehead doll during his performance.

2. SLR cameras will not be allowed in. Don’t bring your super-special camera just to be turned away at the door.

3. Pretending to be the bassist of Battle of the Bands winner will not get you groupies.

4. You’re never going to find your friends once you’re on the quad. Try having a charged cell phone, and you’ll have a chance, but the best thing you can probably do is force all your friends to wear the brightest shirt they own. And if you can’t find them, you can at least provide the rest of us with amusement at seeing a 6’4” guy in neon pink.

5. No matter how short the food line is, it will take a disgustingly long time to get your burrito/pizza slice, especially when the beer-induced, time-distorting goggles are on. Try to get in line before you’re starving.

6. It’s important to drink just the right amount. They warn you about getting so drunk that you end up in the hospital, but has anyone ever told you how lame it is to have a hangover by the time Mike Posner comes on? Being exhausted and dehydrated while standing in a mosh pit is never a good situation.

7. Speaking of being dehydrated, there was no bottled water at W.I.L.D. last year. We all know the University’s vendetta against bottled water, but this was a little ridiculous. Advice for the future? Sneak into the quad tonight and hide some in the bushes. You won’t regret it.

8. And in regards to drinking enough, all the buildings on the Quad will be locked. Your only bathroom option is a port-a-potty, so come having emptied your bladder before you get trapped.

9. The upperclassmen guys aren’t trying to hook up with you because you’re a drunk freshmen—they’re not that discriminatory. It’s just because you’re a drunk girl.

10. Worst mistake you can make during W.I.L.D.? Staying sober during the day because you’re planning to go to frats after. Word to the wise—they’re all closed.