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Carbondale Community High School concert and chamber choir members perform Friday during their fifth annual Halloween Sing at the Varsity Theater. Carlyn Zimmermann, choir director at CCHS, said the students have contributed to the show and created their own visions through costumes, choreography and song. “The students get to be creative with Halloween and have fun,” Zimmermann said.
Although some students are worried that a university fraternity’s suspension may result in the cancellation of one of its major events, a member from the group said the organization does more than host the Player’s Ball. The Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity has hosted the Player’s Ball for the past 22 years, and Andy Morgan, Greek life coordinator, said the fraternity is not allowed to host campus events as part of its suspension. Ryan Reed, a senior Kappa Alpha Psi member from Homewood studying speech communication, said he encourages students and faculty to know the fraternity is much more than the event, though he appreciates students’ love for it. The Player’s Ball was held last year at the end of The Kappa Karnival, a week-long event that drew about 2,000 college students from SIUC and across the country. Reed said the group hosts students, their families and alumni to enjoy free food, games and fun during the carnival. The organization also hosts a free barbecue, an informational meeting on the fraternity, a comedy show and a car show during the week. “We do so much in the community that we don’t always document like we should, and that’s our fault,” Reed said. He said the group has put in several volunteer hours at local organizations and events along with hosting its own. Besides the Player’s Ball, the group hosts the Can I Live rally every March, and it cohosts a talent show
for area youth in November. Although the fraternity has been suspended, it will still take part in the third annual Carbondale Youth Showcase Nov. 14. During the showcase, Carbondale students exhibit their talents in the Student Center ballrooms, and a school supply drive is held for Carbondale schools and poverty-stricken schools in Bangladesh and South America. Kappa Alpha Psi pioneered the showcase in 2010 and is able to get involved this year by co-sponsoring it with the Speaking and Teaching Registered Student Organization. Reed said he thinks what hurt the most about the fraternity’s suspension was that the university community’s main concern was the Player’s Ball. “The truth of the matter is that we didn’t do what we were supposed to do, and we have to suffer the consequences,” he said. “No one is concerned with the fact that this fraternity that has been around for 62 years will not be at SIU for a while.” Katia Salomon, a senior from Chicago studying psychology, said she has attended the event every year since she’s been at the university and expects the community to suffer without it because of the revenue it generates. Salomon said she thinks many people view the Player’s Ball as a negative event because a lot of people think of it as a time for only partying, but there are other community events such as Polar Bear that are similar but receive more university support. Please see FRATERNITY | 2
After two people were injured in falls at the Garden of the Gods in the past three weeks, officials spoke about ways hikers can avoid accidents. Lt. Tracy Felty, of the Saline County Sheriff’s Office, said the park averages five to six falls per year. With a 20-25 minute minimum emergency response time in the remote area, Felty said it’s important hikers plan ahead before they hit the trails. He said proper preparation is key to helping prevent or handle an emergency situation in the wilderness. Many falls happen because people don’t dress appropriately for a hike, Felty said. “Often times I’ll see people out there in flipflops and sandals, and they’ll be jumping from rock to rock,” Felty said. If a hiker falls into a deep ravine, Felty said it can take 45 minutes to an hour for a repelling team to recover the injured hiker and bring him or her to safety. He said being rescued by a helicopter can be expensive, too, as its starting rate is $14,000. Traveling in a group can be the best way to hike safely, he said. “It’s always good to have a group with you in case there is an emergency,” Felty said. “Whether it’s a fall or something else, you know you are out in the middle of a wilderness area, and there are animals out there.” Rattlesnakes and Copperheads are the two main threats that Felty said could create problems for hikers. Amanda Patrick, public affairs officer for the U.S. Forest Service, said plants and temperature can pose a constant threat to unaware hikers
much like animals can. She said visitors should also be wary of the season before they can properly plan a hike. Patrick said summertime presents many risks to hikers. “With potential heat stroke and being outside, it’s important to make sure folks stay hydrated,” she said. “It’s also important to wear sunscreen and bug repellant because there are lots of different animals and insects and even plants like poison ivy out there.” Felty said proper provisions should also be taken to ensure a safe departure and return, and a GPS is one of the best items to bring along. He said the device can help a hiker give the exact location of an accident to emergency response locations. However, it’s not always the best idea to rely on a cellphone GPS because reception can be limited in an area as big as the Garden of the Gods, Felty said. Patrick said having solid information on Shawnee National Forest can give hikers the best advantage, so it’s always a good idea to call the Office of the Shawnee National Forest Information Desk to receive information about a park at 1-800-MY-WOODS. Thaddeus Portz, treasurer of the climbing club, said he thinks people expect situations to be safer than they are, which in turn makes them underprepared. “There’s almost this sense that everything around us is safer than it is because we live in a controlled environment with handrails everywhere, you know, people get this idea that they’re safe,” Portez said. Austin Flynn can be reached at aflynn@dailyegyptian.com or 536-3311 ext. 257.