Students watch and record the WILD performers (Bri Nitsberg | Student Life)

After Washington University’s spring 2024 Walk In Lay Down (WILD) was held at diminished capacity in the Athletic Complex (AC) instead of on Mudd Field on April 26, a Student Life poll found that the majority of students surveyed had a relatively positive experience of the event, despite preferring it being held outdoors in the future.

All responses in the following article are sourced from the aforementioned poll. Out of the 31 students surveyed, 86% of students said they either “slightly enjoyed” or “enjoyed” the event, and the performances by headliner Joey Bada$$ and opener Iyaz were praised. 

“Joey Bada$$ was an exceptional performer,” senior Sam Block said. “He single-handedly saved WILD.”

Iyaz’s “Replay” was also cited as a highlight of the night for many students, and estimates of how many times he performed the song ranged from three to seven. 

Twenty percent of surveyed undergraduates who attended the concert said they would not attend WILD if it were held in the AC again. 

The main complaints expressed were related to crowd control, both in the pit and in hallways. 

Multiple students voiced frustration with crowd pushing, and described an incident where a large portion of the crowd was knocked on top of each other in the middle of the pit. 

First-year Nico Carlson said a low point of her night was the lack of concert etiquette from other students.

“I was surrounded by very drunk men and a couple of them around me had to get escorted out for being aggressive,” she said. “We were also crammed together so any jarring movement resulted in everyone almost (or actually) falling over.”

First-year Adison Burks echoed Carlson’s discomfort with other students’ behavior during the event. 

“I was squished against the barricades,” Burks said. “Cross-faded students were putting their arms around me and touching my waist,” she said.

Other students mentioned feeling uncomfortable seeing so many police at the event.

“There was an uncomfortably high police presence,” sophomore Max Schreiber said.

Another safety concern was the single exit out of the venue and the difficulty students found navigating the packed hallways. 

“We were not allowed to leave the floor to go to the bathroom during one of the sets,” senior Bela Marcus said. “It was a lot of pushing and some folks panicking since there was not a reason for why we were being held.”

While most students said they would prefer if WILD were to be held outdoors in the future, Block called for a more dramatic reversion of the event. He said he thinks the event should be held in Brookings Quad instead of on Mudd Field like it was in spring 2023.

“WILD used to mean exactly what it stands for: Walk In [Lay] Down,” Block said. “For decades, there was no capacity issue. If they want this tradition to return to its heyday (like most students do), SPB should provide artists that are conducive to lying down — in the Quad like it has been for decades without capacity issues.”