With last year’s fall W.I.L.D. yielding the highest number of injuries in recent history, alcohol consumption was bound to be a concern this year.

But now, some students are worried that the date of W.I.L.D., Friday, Sept. 16, could contribute to even more injuries.

This is an earlier date than in recent years, raising concerns over whether incoming freshman will have time to learn their personal alcohol limits, something that has continually presented problems on the day of W.I.L.D.

“Having W.I.L.D. so close to the beginning of the semester might lead freshmen to learn very quickly what they can—and can’t—handle,” sophomore Luis Rivera said. “The first-aid tent should have its work cut out for them.”

Others disagree. Sophomore WUSA Michelle Hall believes that freshmen will have enough time to adjust to the college environment of alcohol consumption.

“Rock the Row is still two weeks earlier than W.I.L.D., so they still have a few weekends to learn what is ‘too much’,” said Hall.

The administration and members of Team 31 choose the date of W.I.L.D. collaboratively.

Carnaghi said that the date of Sept. 16 is the earliest date the administration would allow for W.I.L.D. to take place, to assure that freshmen RAs have adequate time to hold programs on responsible drinking and alcohol abuse for their residents.

According to Assistant Vice Chancellor Jill Carnaghi, the administration provides Team 31 with several acceptable dates.

“Getting a band to perform outside on a college campus isn’t easy, so we try to give Team 31 and the booking agent some leeway,” Carnaghi said.

The earlier date, Carnaghi said, was chosen to best accommodate students’ needs, taking into account conflicts like the Jewish High Holy Days and fall events on the academic calendar, such as Parents’ Weekend.

“We work to be sensitive to the students’ needs,” she said.

The event has been held in October annually since 2007. However, according to Carnaghi and Team 31 president, junior Alex Levitt, in earlier years the event was always held in September.

“Originally, it was always in September,” Carnaghi said. “Students were actually very upset when they changed it to October.”

This year, W.I.L.D. will conflict with the annual Balloon Glow in Forest Park, a St. Louis tradition, and Dayglow, a popular “paint party,” that will be held at the Pageant.

“There are conflicts, but we think people love W.I.L.D.,” Levitt said. “If they want to be there, they’ll show up.”

Carnaghi says that these sort of conflicts are unavoidable.

“That’s the challenge we get into for all of fall semester with various activities on and off campus,” Carnaghi said. “We would never find a date if we waited for nothing to be happening anywhere.”