_IN TOUCH
Carnival turnout light
By Mike Norris
Beady, Aim. IKre!!
As the executioners
pulled their triggers the
eyes of onlookers filled
with evil glee.
The prisoner sliraped and
tried in vain to shield
himself as the audience
roared with delight.
At last the barrage of
amnuniticMn ended when the
waterguns were empty, and
the prisoner was escorted
from the chamber.
Numerous executions like
the one just described
took place in the cafete
ria last Friday night.
The cafeteria was the
site of the Baptist Stu
dent Union Halloween Car
nival .
Accordingly, the cafe
teria was draped with or
ange and black streamers,
and several students ap
peared in attire other
than what they might have
warn to class.
There were various
booths and games, includ
ing the execution chamber,
and popular music boomed
from a sound system at one
end of the room.
The evening featured a
costume contest and a
dance-off, with the win
ners of both receiving
prizes.
All the elements for a
good carnival were there.
That is, all the elements
except one: a crowd.
There were simply not
many people at the car
nival. Why?
"Because there weren't
enough activities," said
BSU president Gina Worley.
Initial response from
the campus groups was
excellent according to
Worley.
"However, of the fifteen
organizations originally
scheduled to sponsor a
game or booth, only three
showed up," she said.
"We didn’t know what to
expect, but we received a
very good response from
those students who came
out," said Worley.
The organizations which
did participate expressed
enthusiasm about the
event.
Lori Norris, a member of
the Pi Lambda Phi Little
Sisters, said that the
carnival was a good fund
raising opportunity.
"We were disappointed
that more organizations
didn't take part because
it really was something
everyone could enjoy," she
added.
The French Club sponsored
a booth, and Dr. Sandr-
I
Obergfell, the club*s ad
visor, said that the car
nival had real potential.
"I*m sure next year's
turnout will be much bet
ter," said Obergfell.
As for why the turnout
was so light, there were
several suggestions.
"Publicity could be
tetter," said Obergfell.
I just don't think anyone
knew about it."
Regardless of the limit
ed success of the event,
most members of the BSU
came away with positive
feelings.
"Everybody had fun. It
was a good start to what
we hope will become a cam
pus tradition," said mem
ber Becky Parker.
Photo byJonna
^JNCA student Hill Alexander was a disc jockey at
Hallooeen Carnival put on by the Baptist Stndent 9^^
last Friday in the cafeteria.
Halloween memories
By Anne May
It was Oct. 31, 1963.
The winds blew the last
remaining leaves across
the wet pavement. A timid
moon peered from behind
the rain darkened clouds.
Halloween night: the
week's frenzy of picking
and buying costumes and
candy was over. The best
part was about to begin.
For three children, time
as they knew it was stand
ing still.
They sat at the table,
waiting impatiently for
supper to be oiver*
When the last bite of
hotdog was eaten and the
last drop of milk swal
lowed, they padded down
the hall to their bedrooms
to begin the transforma
tion.
Moments later, Casper
the Ghost, a skeleton, and
a witch appeared in their
places. The real business
of Halloween was at hand.
They grabbed their plas
tic jack o' lanterns
(Roses' specials for 39
cents,) and headed for the
door.
Dad followed close be
hind. Mom stayed home to
answer the door and hand
out treats.
T^nty-tw years later,
I still renumber the feel—
It's hard to describe
that type of excitement.
It was anticipation, fear
and delight all at the
same time.
It was the fun of walk
ing up on a neighbor's
porch step and saying
"trick or treat!" in uni
son.
It was pride in the cos
tumes as the door-openers
feigned terrified sur
prise.
And it was knowing that
if the darkness and scary
sounds got a little bit
frightening, there was
always Dad's hand to grab
(when no one was looking,
of course.)
Hobgoblins, ghosts,
witches and hobos lined
the street.
Parents smiled with
delight as they trudged
with their little spooks
from one house to another.
Sometimes the children
were lucky and got Milky
Way bars and candy corn.
Other times, they got li
corice or hard green candy
that tasted like medicine.
As darkness enveloped
them and the wind threat
ened more rain, the weary
goblins and their dad
turned for home.
The candles in the pump
kins on the neighbor's
porches flickered and
sputtered as the wicks
burnt down.
One by one the porch
lights went out. The cars
full of children became
fewer, and the last
maining bits of costoi®^
glitter trailed the chil^'
ren and their dad ^
silvery path toward hoflJ^'l
Mom greeted the group
the door and examined
bulging plastic jack ^
lanterns with a discerni^
eye.
The masks and the
tumes were traded
flannel pajamas, and
children forgot them ^
they ran to the livl4
room to dump their
sures in the middle of
floor.
There, the boisteto'^^i
bartering and bargai*’^
for candy took place.
And Mom came in
soothe things over
remove the jack o'
terns full of candy to
kitchen cabinet
little hands coul^J^
reach them.
Bedtime came and
lights were turned o
.ut'
Quiet loomed over
house.
In the living room
clock struck 10 and
breeze from the open
dow in the comer stir^
a forgotten skeleton
mask in the floor.
And 1963 came and
as quicl^ as all the
years have. '
Sometimes it's easy
forget the Halloween
memories are made of.