With more than 11 University of Minnesota-sponsored events packed into three days this weekend for Spring Jam, students will need to decide which events they want to attend âÄî or if they will attend at all. Based on previous years, the Spring Jam committee expects 500 to 1,000 students to attend the different events and 3,000 to 5,000 attendees for the main performance by Gym Class Heroes on Saturday night. This yearâÄôs change of schedule from a weeklong celebration to a concentrated three days came after survey results indicated students and faculty would prefer a shorter program, Spring Jam committee chairwoman Courtney Elmergreen said. The program will feature performances by Minneapolis group Cloud Cult, Gym Class Heroes and comedian Josh Blue, the 2006 winner of NBCâÄôs âÄúLast Comic Standing.âÄù Many students present at the Dinkytown riot during Spring Jam 2009 walked to the Dinkytown gathering after main performer Talib Kweli canceled his show because of problems with his flight. To avoid last-minute substitutions of the main musical performance this year, the committee included a clause in the contract with Gym Class Heroes stipulating that they must be present for a sound check early in the day Saturday, Elmergreen said. Every event is free for University students, aside from the $5 fee for BlueâÄôs Thursday show. Buckets and Tap Shoes, a group of musicians, percussionists and rhythm tap dancers will also perform Friday night. There will be a dance and band competition. But for students like Adam Postelnek, a marketing and entrepreneurial management junior, Spring Jam presents the perfect opportunity for some college studentsâÄô favorite pastime: drinking. âÄúFor some, itâÄôs an opportunity to enjoy University events, but for other people itâÄôs an excuse to get drunk all week,âÄù Postelnek said Tuesday. âÄúStarting today and going until Friday, IâÄôll be doing quite a bit of day drinking.âÄù Postelnek said that although he will be out of town for some of SaturdayâÄôs main festivities for lacrosse games, he wouldnâÄôt have attended the University events anyway. âÄúI think it would be great if the University sponsored good events âÄî I mean, I liked Gym Class Heroes back in high school,âÄù Postelnek said. Each event is also alcohol-free, Elmergreen said, and security will be present at all times with the cooperation of the University of Minnesota Police Department. While Elmergreen noted that the riots last year happened off-campus, she said the University wanted to provide a safe atmosphere for students on-campus. Elmergreen said the Spring Jam committee partnered with the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council to plan the ballyhoo dance competition and the band competition, contributing to a greek presence in the Spring Jam festivities. While all this action happens on campus, some students âÄî like Madison Taylor-Hayden, a Univeristy transfer student majoring in gender, women and sexuality studies âÄî have no plans for this weekend. âÄúI donâÄôt really know what itâÄôs all about,âÄù Taylor-Hayden said. âÄúMy friends said something about a concert, but IâÄôm not sure if IâÄôm going to go.âÄù