The Equinox Pumpkin Festival 2012

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Included: -­ Pursued by the police -­ 'Gourd'geous celebrations -­ Pumpkin War commences -­ Pumpkin Lobotomy -­ And much more!

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Carving into Pumpkin Fest 2012

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THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 2012

Draining the pumpkin brains

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Black EMILY FEDORKO / SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

Left: Students begin carving their pumpkins during Pumpkin Lobotomy. Right: One student grabs a handful on pumpkin guts to begin carving.

Rain doesn't stop students from carving creations MICHELLE BERTHIAUME

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THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 2012

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.HHQH ÂżOOHG ZLWK IHVWLYDO IRRG KAITLYN COOGAN

NEWS EDITOR

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sausage sandwiches, in addition to apple crisp and other popular fall foods.

Keene  community  enjoys  annual  'fun  run' LYNDSAY KRISEL

and you also have several people on campus for lobotomy, so what’s a twenty minute run to throw into the mix,� Andrews continued. In light of the anticipated turnout, the run seems to promote school spirit, and brings camaraderie amongst students and staff at Keene State. It typically has quite a few volunteer staff members as well, who help with the little extras of the organized occasion, and some of those volunteering students talked a little about why it is so favorable. A 5K event is perfect because it isn’t as competitive, and more people are prone to participate knowing that it is just for fun.� Whilst all of that is factually true, many people just love a good, competitive run where they can be timed and shoot for a VSHFLÀF JRDO VR ZLWK D OLWWOH FKDOOHQJH DQG some good, clean fun, the 2012 Pumpkin Fun Run has recently been postponed, and will aim to take place on Friday, October 26th.

EQUINOX STAFF Each year, Keene State College Athletics hosts an Annual 5k Pumpkin Fun Run, in the midst of other fall activities, to energize students and give them an opportunity to participate in an event, other than their regular, mundane, weekend behaviors. The fun run/walk was originally designed to allow a group of Keene State College students or faculty, to get together while staying active, and over the past seven years there has been quite a large turnout. Signups each year include over 175 participants, with a free t-shirt given to the PDMRULW\ RI WKRVH ZKR Ă€QLVK Ă€UVW DQG QRW many college students would pass up that opportunity. Some people do it for the challenge, others for pure enjoyment; nevertheless it has been a great way to unite our campus together. Lynne Andrews, of the Keene State Recreation department explained that the idea IRU D . ZDV Ă€UVW KHDUG RI LQ D VXUYH\ JLYHQ to students and faculty, regarding other activities that could be organized by the athletic department. “We sent out a survey to students, and

CHELSEA NICKERSON AND JILL TAGUE / GRAPHICS EDITOR AND EQUINOX STAFF

one suggested we develop Lyndsay Krisel can be contacted at lkrisel@ some sort of 5K run, so our department with the Annual Pumpkin Fest’s Pumpkin keene-equinox.com staff sat and talked about it and decided to Lobotomy, as a way to gain more particiorganize it,â€? said Andrews. The event was pants. “Tying the run in with Pumpkin lobotoDOVR VSHFLĂ€FDOO\ SODQQHG LQ FRQMXQFWLRQ my gives way for a more captive audience,

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From fried pickles to pumpkin butter, the Keene Pumpkin Fest served over 1,000 hungry customers on Saturday, Oct. 20. In keeping with the festival spirit, many stands offered some IRUP RI SXPSNLQ Ă DYRUHG IRRGV such as pumpkin sausage soup, pumpkin corn bread, pumpkin turkey chili, pumpkin whoopie pies and old fashion pumpkin pie. Junior Nathan Bisson said his favorite food was the pulled pork VROG E\ D ORFDO Ă€UH GHSDUWPHQW Junior at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Joe Bizzier agreed. “I probably liked the pulled pork the best, and I might try to get the apple crisp,â€? Bizzier said. Junior Vanessa Brooks tried the apple crisp and said it was her favorite. “Even though it didn’t have ice cream in it, it has candy corn which I love and it added some color. It was pretty.â€? Other vendors offered traditional carnival food such as hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries, fried dough, chicken sandwiches, and candy apples. Senior at University of Connecticut, Meghan Colleta, said that she only ate a hot dog. “It’s too hot for the othEMILY FEDORKO / SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER er food, the weather is too hot for The crowd mingles around many of the vendors during Pumpkin Fest. Festival goers were treated to cotton candy, maple butter,

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THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 2012

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A & E EDITOR

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KARINA BARRIGA / EQUINOX STAFF

THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 2012

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Finding a needle in a pumpkin patch RYAN GLAVEY

ADMINISTRATIVE EXECUTIVE EDITOR

RYAN GLAVEY / ADMINISTRATIVE EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Pumpkin carved by Ryan Glavey (Above). Photos below of various pumpkins featured in the Keene Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 20, 2012.

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With the all-too-predictable rainy weather, the L.P. Young Student Center lawn was covered with pumpkins for the annual Keene State College Pumpkin Lobotomy. I sifted through the array of tall, short, small, large, traditional orange or even green pumpkins for the one I would carve for the Keene Pumpkin Fest. This year’s batch was already thoroughly picked through before I got to the student center, but after a few minutes of searching I found my subject. I found a short, fat pumpkin that had a lot of dirt on it, but I saw its potential and took it home to carve. Picking the pumpkin was the easy part, but then came step two: deciding on a design. I’m far from the most artistic sculptor, but I wanted to do something a little more creative this year. I considered a few possibilities as I cleaned out the pumpkin guts. I chose the traditional route to carving this year, with nothing more than a steak knife and a large spoon for scooping out the pumpkin. I decided it would be appropriate to carve The Equinox as my design, to represent the paper at the festival. Unfortunately, after only a few minutes of the meticulous work I realized I did not have the patience or ability for intricate letterwork. I had already started however, so I did my best to adjust my plans to salvage my pumpkin. I opted for a more traditional jacko-lantern design. With a pair of rectangular eyes, a triangle nose and a goofy smile with a couple of teeth my contribution to Pumpkin Fest was complete. I carried the orange face into the fray of downtown Keene in full swing with the weekend festivities. I left my work with the rest of the delivered pumpkins and left to later return for the lighting of the jack-o-lanterns. The festival did not disappoint, like every year there was bevy of unique and creative designs WR VHDUFK WKURXJK WR ÀQG P\ FUHation. There were several carvings that caught my eye, from a wellcrafted dragon, words spelled out in a row of pumpkins, to a sea of brightly-lit goofy faces. I made my way through the KRUGHV RI YLVLWRUV ÀOOLQJ WKH VWUHHWV of Keene. Main Street was littered with all manner of pumpkins, KRZ ZDV , JRLQJ WR ÀQG PLQH" , searched through the stands up the street. My journey brought me to the town square and the giant pumpkin marking the epicen-

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ter of the Pumpkin Fest. My hunt through the pumpkins at the center of town left me empty handed and, still not any closer to being reunited with my creation. As I made my way back down the other side of the pumpkin-lined road, I grew distraught. At this point I assumed I had simply overlooked my pumpkin a long time ago, and was searching in vain through the remaining bunch. I became less and less vigilant looking through the seemingly endless rows of pumpkins, assuming I’d never ÀQG P\ SXPSNLQ Then, I saw it. To my amazement there it was, almost at the

end of the street, as if waiting for me at the conclusion of my journey through Pumpkin Fest 2012. My pumpkin’s gaping mouth let out a large amount of candlelight, helping it stand out amongst a rather dim sections of the strip. I rejoiced at my accomplishment, and admired my pumpkin amongst its festival companions. I took one last photo of the glowing jack-o’-lantern before heading home, leaving my pumpkin to its fate amongst its numerous orange brethren. Ryan Glavey can be contacted at rglavey@keene-equinox.com

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THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 2012

Pumpkin  patch  production BRITTANY BALLANTYNE

SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR

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Hundreds of pumpkins lined Main Street each Pumpkin Fest on Oct. 20 this year. But a pumpkin's journey to the festival actually begins the previous spring, deep in the ground before it makes its debut months later. “The process begins the year before. The farmers are looking at what people are asking for,â€? George Hamilton of the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, said. Hamilton said “As a whole, I would say this is a good average year for the yieldâ€? which was proven by the abundance of jack-o’-lanterns that lined Main Street on shelves, sidewalks and scaffolding. He said one of the concerns farmers have is making sure they have enough of select varieties for their buyers. Multiple farms are suppliers for C&S Wholesale Grocers, a company that donated more than 6,700 pumpkins to the festival, according to Patterson Farm's Cynthia Roberts. Student Body President, Katelyn Williams, said the Keene State College Pumpkin Lobotomy alone calls for 1,800 pumpkins from Gladstone Farm in Vermont, which are purchased by Sodexo. “There's different sizes of pumpkins because you can get baking pumpkins, you can get carving pumpkins, there's also a couple different varieties of pumpkins,â€? Richard Aldrich, pumpkin farmer of the 1780 )DUP ORFDWHG LQ &KHVWHUĂ€HOG 1 + VDLG +H DGGHG WKH At this year's P umpkin Fest ival, C&S Who most popular pumpkin type is the traditional carvlesale Groce rs donated m BR IAN CA NT h a i l ing pumpkin. ore than 6,70 OR E / EQ UI NOX STAF F 0 pumpkins Hamilton said during winter months, farmers make a storm destroyed many of to the event. weat hdecision on what varieties of crops to plant to determine in the plants and fruits at farms this year. Aldrich spoke about the consequences of a season er. He also said this year was WKH VSULQJ ZKLFK Ă€HOGV WKH\ ZLOO EH SODQWHG LQ He said other factors a farmer can control are how much where it rains through the blooming period. This prevents an earlier spring, which contributes to having a longer, later, pumpkin season. bees from getting out to pollinate blooms that do occur. IHUWLOL]HU WR XVH DQG KRZ DQG ZKHQ WR JHW WKH Ă€HOG UHDG\ “Each year is a year onto itself. We [farmers] always joke “Pollination is really important. Sixty percent of the food The weather, however, is beyond a farmer’s control. when we say 'I wish we had a normal year' and that's been “We can have it just rain right through the whole season, we we eat requires pollination of some sort at least,â€? he said. :KLOH VRPH EXJV DUH EHQHĂ€FLDO WR WKH SODQWV RWKHUV truthful lately because either we have a short growing seahad that last year. We had so much rain we had no pumpare harmful. Hamilton said farmers have to monitor crops son or we have a long growing season,â€? he said. kins,â€? Aldrich said. Aldrich praised this crop season when comparing “Mother Nature really likes to throw curves in the grow- during the season to keep an eye out for invading insects. ing season,â€? Hamilton said. He explained that with thun- One of these bugs is known as the “strike cucumber bee- it to the past year. He said last year very few squash of any derstorms and rain patterns, one town might be affected tle.â€? When such insects invade, farmers implement various kind came into full form, however this year was the oppostrategies to prevent bugs from laying eggs that will later site. while another town might not be. “You'll drive by the places that are selling pumpkins, “I could have a farm in one town receive a thunderstorm bore through the plant. Aldrich said, “Initially what we do is you're going to see a lot of green pumpkins out there which where just down the road a quarter of a mile they didn't recover them [pumpkins] with we haven't seen in the past,â€? he said. ceive it,â€? Hamilton said. He said in the Keene area Normally, there is a 50 percent chance of a frost on Sept. a fabric that lets the sun and and especially in Walpole, N.H., water through but not the 19 but, “each year we have to adjust what we're doing aca severe cording to that growing season,â€? Hamilton said. bugs in.â€? When asked why he chooses to farm, Aldrich said, “We He mentioned another invader called the “squash think that it is necessary for us to get back to basics when it bug.â€? Although the bug comes to our food supply.â€? Aldrich began farming with his wife four years ago and smells like candy when caught, according to Al- now his farm is a total of 35 acres. “The entire New Engdrich, it will decimate a land area has a three day supply of food and if for some young squash plant or reason we were shut off from the outside world, we would run out of food in three days,â€? he said. pumpkin. Aside from farming for his own food and inHe said farmers, including himself, will come, Aldrich said a huge part of his job is now about protect the plant until education.“We're teaching the next generation what real LW V Ă€YH WR VL[ PRQWKV food looks like, how to eat in season, buying local,â€? he said. Hamilton added, “regardless of what happens, go out old, or “beyond the baby leaves,â€? but and support your local farmers.â€? “then it's on its own.â€? FF TA S Brittany Ballantyne can be contacted at Hamilton pointed X O / EQ U IN A N TO R E e out that last year was n to bballantyne@keene-equinox.com B R IA N C s d la om G hased fr e c r th u a wet farming sead p te e a r r we eco umpkins otomy d son with less grow, 1,80 0 p arved at the lob y m to o b kin Lo pkins c p ing days and colder m m u u p P e 's h r T . ea At this y y Sodexo ermont b Main Street. V in m r Fa wn f downto streets o

THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 2012

C7 / PUMPKIN FESTIVAL

Playing  it  safe  this  festival  weekend PAMELA BUMP

EQUINOX STAFF

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EMILY FEDORKO / SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

This weekend Campus Safety and the Keene Police Department made sure to educate students and the community on how to regulate registered parties and noise levels.

KPD on campus as the KPD has to manage the rest of the littered with smashed pumpkins and trash by midnight city.â€? Corbett said, “Two of the biggest issues we see usu- than in previous years, where people often smashed left DOO\ LQYROYH FURZGLQJ DQG WKH LQĂ XHQFH RI DOFRKRO Âľ over pumpkins on the ground. Police vehicles also kept Corbett continued, “There will be no sobriety check- watch on Main Street as a contest to clean up the street SRLQWV Âľ EXW WKHUH ZRXOG EH RQH WR WZR .3' RIĂ€FHUV RQ took place. each major street to oversee the festivities. Corbett said, Although the KPD and Campus Safety are enforcing ´:H KDYH WKH RIĂ€FHUV VSUHDG RXW DOO RYHU WR RYHUVHH WKLQJV Âľ rules, both Corbett and Warman both said that they were &RUEHWW DGGHG ´:H KRSH WKDW ZLOO LQĂ XHQFH SHRSOH LQ D for the best interest of the people. positive way.â€? Warman said that besides the usual incidents often inThe Keene Police Department has also been in volving noise or alcohol on campus, nothing unexpected touch with houses that have registered parties in advance. has happened in recent years' Pumpkin Fest. Warman said, 7KH RIĂ€FHUV DW .3' UHTXHVWHG IRU WKH UHJLVWHUHG SDUW\ KRXV- “It’s just a really busy time, but we want people to be safe HV WR TXLHW DQG VORZ GRZQ DURXQG S P RQ 6DWXUGD\ QLJKW and we want people to have a good time.â€? according to Corbett. Corbett said, “We have talked to a lot RI SHRSOH ZKR VHHP WR EH FRRSHUDWLYH ZLWK WKLV UHTXHVW Âľ Pamela Bump can be contacted at pbump@keene-equinox. According to recent reports from the Keene Sentinel, the com areas of Main Street where the Festival occurred were less

Downtown  businesses  prepare  for  the  annual  tradition SHANNON FLYNN

a couple of weeks to prepare for Pumpkin Fest. “You take the risk ordering so much,â€? Keating said. She said it takes strategic 3XPSNLQ )HVW LV RQH RI WKH PRVW SURĂ€Wplanning. able days for some businesses in downLife is Sweet does make some special town Keene, leaving the managers pretreats for Pumpkin Fest. Keating likes to paring for weeks and experiencing their “embrace the spirit.â€? According to Keating, KLJKHVW SURĂ€WV RI WKH VHDVRQ VKH KDV PDGH FDUDPHO DSSOHV SXPSNLQ Ă D“It’s always a great day for us,â€? Tracy vored soft serve ice cream, and fall-decoKeating, the owner of Life is Sweet, said. rated cupcakes. This year Keating also has Life is Sweet is a candy shop that recentready-to-carve pumpkins. According to ly moved to a larger location in Central Keating, the pumpkins have already been 6TXDUH .HDWLQJ FRPPHQWHG WKDW HYHU\hollowed so they are all ready to carve. thing is going great but it is “a little overThe Art of Inside, Ann Henderson Intewhelming.â€? Keating said she prepared ULRUV LV DQRWKHU EXVLQHVV WKDW SURĂ€WV IURP more for the locals and visitors on PumpPumpkin Fest. The Art of Inside is a home kin Fest. interior shop, selling home furnishings According to Keating, she has ten and decorations. Emily Henderson, the times more staff on hand and orders more assistant manager said, “We have a lot of product in hope of a great day. Seeing as fun getting ready.â€? According to HenderKeating sees almost double the amount of son, the store gets rearranged to accomcustomers on a normal Saturday, she takes PRGDWH WKH WUDIĂ€F +HQGHUVRQ VDLG 7KH

EQUINOX STAFF

:RUNV %DNHU\ &DIp DOVR VHHV D JUHDW SURĂ€W increase from Pumpkin Fest. “It’s the busiest day of the year,â€? Jeff Rondeau, manger of The Works, said. Rondeau said the store has three times the business they get for an average Saturday. Rondeau claimed their busiest time of the day on Pumpkin Fest is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Because of this, The Works is open until 10 p.m., which allows the store to be open an extra four hours according to Rondeau. He also said everyone on staff works on Pumpkin Fest. In the spirit of Pumpkin Fest, Rondeau said The Works has specials. They PDNH SXPSNLQ Ă DYRUHG FUHDP FKHHVH bagels, coffee and other items according to Rondeau. He also stated they “prepare all week.â€? Rondeau said they order double what they normally would. Not all the businesses in Keene depend RQ DQG SURĂ€W IURP 3XPSNLQ )HVW DFFRUGing to Laura Keith King, the president of

the Chamber of Commerce in Keene. “It depends on the business,â€? King said. She stated that for some businesses, Pumpkin Fest is huge and for others it is not helpful. King said some businesses like Pumpkin Fest because it helps out the community, but they do not expect to sell anything. Some of the higher end stores do not PDNH PXFK RI D SURĂ€W RQ 3XPSNLQ )HVW She also mentioned how Pumpkin Fest is hard on Keene State College. According to King, they “take a lot of the blame for the misbehavior.â€? King said that sometimes it is not even KSC students. “Car loads of college kids come in looking for parties,â€? King said. Despite the issues, Pumpkin Fest is “a wholesome and fun day and evening,â€? King said. 6KDQQRQ )O\QQ FDQ EH FRQWDFWHG DW VĂ \QQ# keene-equinox.com

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Campus Safety and Keene Police Department began their preparations for the recent Pumpkin Fest the day after last year’s festivities ended, according to Amanda Warman, the Director of Campus Safety. :DUPDQ VDLG WKDW WKLV PHHWLQJ EHWZHHQ RIĂ€FHUV RFFXUV similarly every year. “We meet and discuss what went well, what did not go well and lessons learned to prepare for the next year of Pumpkin Fest,â€? Warman said. Warman stated some of the major planning involved assigning where the .6& FRPPXQLW\ FRXOG Ă€QG SDUNLQJ Ă€JXULQJ RXW ZKHUH RIĂ€FHUV ZRXOG EH DVVLJQHG DQG RWKHU DGPLQLVWUDWLYH DUHDV Warman explained that no major changes in Campus Safety’s policies had occurred for this year’s festival and LQGLFDWHG WKDW WKH .6& 5HVLGHQWLDO /LIH RIĂ€FH¡V GHFLVLRQ WR limit KSC students to one guest each did not involve Campus Safety. “Another major portion of our preparation is receiving and getting out certain information,â€? Warman added. Warman said Campus Safety makes an effort to report parking information as well as other important information to students, while collecting information themselves about all the events occurring during the weekend ahead of time. Warman continued, “We need to make sure student employees can get on to campus to work during the weekend.â€? Despite rumors of the appearance of KPD’s BearCat, the Liaison between Campus Safety and the Keene Police 'HSDUWPHQW 2IĂ€FHU .DWLH &RUEHWW VDLG WKDW WKH %HDUFDW would, “Not be making an appearance at Pumpkin Fest.â€? Corbett also said that KPD does not yet have a time frame on when the BearCat will come to Keene. Although the BearCat will not be at the event, both Corbett and Warman indicated that KPD and Campus Safety would be using on campus assistance from four University RI 1HZ +DPSVKLUH RIĂ€FHUV DFWLQJ LQ SODFH RI .3' LI QHHGed on campus. Warman said, “Keene has been assisted E\ 81+ RIĂ€FHUV IRU Ă€YH RU VL[ \HDUV QRZ Âľ %HIRUH WKH IHVWLYDO EHJLQV 81+ DQG .3' RIĂ€FHUV PHHW WR PDNH VXUH WKH two police departments are “on the same page,â€? according to Warman. For example Warman explained that, “If UNH RIĂ€FHUV PDNH DQ\ DUUHVWV WKH\ NQRZ KRZ WR JHW WKDW WR WKH Keene police.â€? :DUPDQ DGGHG WKH XVH RI 81+ RIĂ€FHUV ZDV KHOSIXO IRU both Campus Safety and KPD. Warman said, “The KPD has been busy in other places, which is why we brought LQ RIĂ€FHUV IURP 81+ 7KH\¡UH VXSSOHPHQWLQJ WKH SODFH RI

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THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 2012

n i k p m u p e h t Let

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EMILY FEDORKO / SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

Left: A band marches down Main Street during the day. Right: The large crowd meanders through downtown to take in the music, sights and various vendors.

THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 2012

C9 / PUMPKIN FESTIVAL

Highwood, Ill. and Keene, N.H. face off BRIAN SCHNEE

EQUINOX STAFF

COREY AUSTIN / WEB MASTER

Drew Scott, from the HGTV show, "Property Brothers," poses with fans on Main St. during Pumpkin Festival on Saturday, Oct. 20.

"It's a great way to get the word out to the rest of the world about the attributes of this community."

- KENDALL LANE KEENE CITY MAYOR

ample, one picture on Highwood’s pumpkin festival website showed numerous pumpkins with large, round, gaping holes, rather than handcarved creations. Pecaro said he and Fourth Ward Alderman Eric Falberg travelled to Keene last year to check out the area and see how things were run. AcFRUGLQJ WR 3HFDUR )DOEHUJ Ă€UVW KHDUG RI .HHQH¡V pumpkin festival while living in Vermont as a property owner of Snow Goose Inn located in West Dover, Vt. “We actually went up to Keene last year,â€? Pecaro said. Falberg pitched the idea to Pecaro who said he loved the concept. Last year, Falberg and Pecaro went to Keene together to gather ideas for their own festival. “They were nice enough to have us last year,â€? Pecaro said. “They took us DURXQG WRZQ WR Ă€QG RXW KRZ LW¡V UXQ DQG ZKDW LV done and we really enjoyed our time up there.â€? Highwood then proceeded to start its own pumpkin festival and after the second year WKH\ FDUYHG DQG OLW QHDUO\ SXPSNLQV 7KDW is when the competitive edge began. “If we are really going to do this,â€? Pecaro said, “We should contact Keene who has been doing this for 20-plus years.â€? Through a connection with HGTV in Highwood, Pecaro said he and Falberg contacted Ruth Sterling, the head of management with Keene Pumpkin Fest. Sterling then communicated with Keene Mayor Kendall Lane who jumped at the promotion possibilities. Lane said he was more interest-

ed in the positive coverage by HGTV to not only publicize the competition out there but also to promote the Keene community. “It’s a great way to get the word out to the rest of the world about the attributes of this community,â€? Lane said. Local area residents were also excited about Pumpkin Fest this year because of the extra publicity from the competition as well as HGTV Ă€OPLQJ ´3XPSNLQ :DUV Âľ ““I think it’s great because it brings a lot of recognition to the city and the festival,â€? Swanzey resident Donna Paine said. Community seems to be the common theme between both Keene and Highwood. Pecaro said it’s tough not to get caught up in everything leading up to their pumpkin festival competition. “You want to make sure that tasks are getting done,â€? Pecaro said. “This year I’m going to try and pull back to spent more time with my family.â€? With 364 days until next year’s festivals, both cities will likely be sharpening its carving NQLIHV RU LWV SRZHU GULOOV IRU WKH 3XPSNLQ Festival competition. Until then, however, Highwood, Ill. has the upper hand over Keene in the pumpkin carving showdown and a new entry in the Guinness Book of World Records. Brian Schnee can be contacted at bschnee@keeneequinox.com Contributed information provided by Lauren Campbell.

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In a battle of two cities, thousands of pumpkin supporters armed with pumpkins poured into the streets on Saturday, Oct. 20 for two very different festivals, nearly 800 miles apart. The cities of Keene, N.H. and Highwood, Ill. found themselves head-to-head at the center of competition by carving and gutting for countless hours in efforts to break the existing world record for most lit jack-o-lanterns. With Guinness World Record adjudicators and HGTV “Pumpkin Warsâ€? talent on hand in both Highwood and Keene on Saturday, it was WKH Ă€UVW WLPH WKHVH WZR FLWLHV KDG RIĂ€FLDOO\ GXHOHG with pumpkins against each other. Drew Scott, from the HGTV show, “PropHUW\ %URWKHUV Âľ ZDV LQ .HHQH Ă€OPLQJ IRU ´3XPSkin Wars.â€? Scott said he wanted to support the town of Keene in their quest to break the world record, but he also wanted to defeat his brother, Jonathan in a showdown of sibling rivalry. “We’re here to support. My brother’s over in Highwood, Ill. trying to take the Guinness World Record from Keene. So he’s supporting them and I’m here to make sure that we get that record,â€? Scott said. The “Keene Sentinelâ€? announced early SunGD\ WKDW WKH Ă€QDO FRXQW RI SXPSNLQV DW WKH 3XPSNLQ )HVWLYDO ZDV :KLOH +LJKZRRG Mayor Charlie Pecaro was easily accessible early in the week, he could not be reached for comment on Sunday. According to the “Chicago Sun Timesâ€? Highland Park section, roughly 38,000 pumpkins were counted at Highwood’s festival, giving them a new world record. However, it is mentioned that the Guinness adjudicator VWDWLRQHG LQ +LJKZRRG KDV QRW UHOHDVHG WKH RIĂ€cial number. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Keene entered the festival with \HDUV RI H[SHULHQFH KLJKOLJKWHG ZLWK HLJKW world records in the pumpkin lighting category. Highwood broke the world record last year with SXPSNLQV DQG ZRUNHG WKURXJK LWV IRXUWK pumpkin festival this past weekend. Highwood is a small city of over 5,000 people, located about 40 minutes north of Chicago. With the total land area of Highwood just over a half of a mile, Keene has a towering population of more than four times the amount of Highwood. However, even with Keene’s population edge, it appears Highwood enjoyed an advantage in pumpkins supplied by farms. According to the “Sun Times,â€? Pearce Brothers Family Farm in Walworth, Wis. supplied 32,000 pumpkins to Highwood by planting an entire extra acre. That number of pumpkins is more than the total amount carved pumpkins in Highwood last year, which is more than the previous world record. As to how Highwood obtained that acre of pumpkins, there was no available comment from Pearce Brothers Family Farm. In addition to the volume of pumpkins obtained by Highwood, it appears drilling pumpkins was favored over carving pumpkins. For ex-

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THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 2012

Parties  and  pepper  spray:  a  dangerous  combination JULIE CONLON

STUDENT LIFE EDITOR

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What’s a Pumpkin Fest weekend without a little panic and pepper spray? Approximately 700 Keene State College students, guests and community members found out when the men in blue sprayed outdoor parties on Blake Street and Wilcox Terrace on the afternoon of Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012. While Main Street glowed in a sea of orange in the afternoon sun, several outdoor student partiers glowed orange themselves—not by the color of pumpkins or vibrant tee shirts, but in the mist of pepper spray. The incidences began with a phone call of complaint from a resident on Wilcox Terrace. Keene Police Sergeant Steven Tenney said KPD responded to a call from a concerned Wilcox landlord about his property while a home on the street partied with approximately 500 guests outdoors. Tenney also said an elderly woman complained that beer bottles were being thrown at her house and people were urinating on her property. Tenney said it was these two calls that led KPD to KSC junior Max Senew’s home on Wilcox Terrace. Senew approximated he had 500 people at his home on Saturday afternoon. Senew said the music had been going for about two and a half hours before police entered the scene. Senew explained, “The way it happened was one cop just kind of started walking through the middle of the party. People were just trying to avoid him—there was a big circle around him.â€? Senew said that although his party may have been a little loud, he said it was contained and people were generally being respectful before the police made an appearance. $FFRUGLQJ WR 7HQQH\ D JURXS RI IRXU WR VL[ RIĂ€FHUV DSproached Wilcox Terrace with a PA system telling partygoers to leave. Tenney explained, “They had people on a PA because they had DJs and stuff telling them not to leave,â€? the sergeant continued, “So what happens in that case is clearly we’re outnumbered. In the case of Wilcox Terrace, there ZDV D VLQJOH RIĂ€FHU WKHUH DQG WKH\ ZHUH FRPSOHWHO\ UHIXVing to cooperate with him and essentially surrounded him WR WKH SRLQW ZKHUH ZH FRXOGQ¡W HYHQ Ă€QG KLP Âľ $W WKDW SRLQW DFFRUGLQJ WR 7HQQH\ WKH RIĂ€FHUV ZHQW through a procedure of moving people off the property. 7HQQH\ H[SODLQHG WKH RIĂ€FHUV PDGH DQ\ZKHUH IURP VL[ to eight announcements to the crowd. Tenney described, “After a handful of those announcements, we kind of step up our announcements to the point

EMILY FEDORKO / SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

Top: A Keene Police officer speaks to college students after having broken up a party. Bottom left: trash left as a result of partying. Bottom right: the scene at a house party when the police arrive.

where this is now not a lawful party you guys need to leave, and we actually display the pepper spray and we tell people that pepper spray is going to be deployed.â€? At this SRLQW WKH RIĂ€FHUV GLVSOD\HG WKHLU SHSSHU VSUD\ He continued, “Clearly what happens is when people

see an orange mist go out into the air it creates a little bit of panic. It’s not to say that people didn’t feel the effect of pepper spray, I felt it myself, but it wasn’t directed at anyone.� Tenney explained the spray was shot straight up into 3(33(5 635$< &

Twitter,  Facebook,  Instagram  overloaded  with  #pumpkinfest  RAYMOND WALDRON

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Tweeting drunk and taking artistic pictures of pumpkins proved to be among the more popular activities this weekend at the annual Keene Pumpkinfest. Twitter, Facebook and Instagram were the choice activities for Keene State students this past weekend. People began to send tweets about Pumpkinfest in Keene as early as two weeks ago and on Friday night that number of hit over 400. The number skyrocketed Saturday night during the actual event to double the previous night. The overall response from students was that this was a wild weekend. Tweets like “Did a bomb go off in Keene? Oh wait no that was just #PUMPKINFEST� from @NickG-

Wood11 were rampant over the weekend. “Keene State was def wild last night #pumpkinfest� tweets @NahG43. Tweets also got more revealing as the event wound down. @shelbydawn1989 tweeted Sunday morning “alcohol got the best of me yesterday. #pumpkinfest #wasted #keene #crazy.� The tweets provided live updates as to just how wild the weekend was. As @TaraSousa tweeted last night at 2 a.m., “Crazy s*** happens at Keene #pumpkinFest� Students also celebrated the amount of pumpkins that were on display downtown. The pumpkin display downtown was the focal point of several pictures on the photo editing site Instagram. The majority of the pictures were of the massive scaffolding downtown that held up the pumpkin display.

The number of pictures on Instagram that had the “Pumpkinfestâ€? tag attached to them hit a whopping 3,687 photos over the weekend. Instagram photos can be attached to Tweets, which makes them easier to distribute. Facebook played a key role in spreading the word of Pumpkinfest. The most prominent Facebook page utilized over the weekend is a page called “Help! Don’t ever cancel the Keene Pumpkinfest.â€? This group has 5,850 people who like it, and has 679 people who are actively discussing things about WKH HYHQW 7KLV VSHFLĂ€F )DFHERRN SDJH EHcame a hub of the weekend’s activities, as it focused less on the student partying and more on town events. Facebook held four separate pages for the Pumpkinfest, including the “Help! 32/,&( &

Don’t ever cancel the keene Pumpkinfestâ€? page. The range of pages went from simple pages describing Pumpkinfest, all the way to a studend group made to advertise a student-made Pumpkinfest t-shirt. One page allowed users to record their location on Facebook, and check-in at Pumpkinfest. It appears social media played an important role in this year’s Pumpkinfest. “They [the students] were all just having fun‌everyone had their friends up, and wanted connect with each other via Twitter,â€? said KSC Junior Spenser Schwartzmiller as to why so many students utilize social media over the weekend. “Everyone was drunk DQG XQGHU WKH LQĂ XHQFH RI VRPHWKLQJ Âľ Raymond Waldron can be contacted at rwaldron@ksc.keene.edu.

THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 2012

C11 / PUMPKIN FESTIVAL

Night  life  carves  way  into  downtown  Keene REBECCA FARR

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

HQ Ă XWH OLNH LQVWUXPHQWV VXFK as zampoĂąas and chakchas, while producer Sergio Espinoza was alternating between playing the drum and zampoĂąa for Pumpkin Fest goers. Espinoza said the two were very happy to be at Keene’s Pumpkin Fest yet again. Although they were unable to attend 2011’s festival, they have come every year since 2004. Toward the opposite end of Main Street, past Margarita’s and the Main Stage area, right to the side of Saint Joseph’s Church stood Batman and his Batmobile. Children dressed as princesses, pirates and little Draculas all wanted their picture taken with Batman. Ed Pahl, who has been Keene’s very own Batman for six years said it’s the children who keep him coming back to Pumpkin Fest. “It’s grown a lot, all because people just want their picture taken with me,â€? Pahl said. Rebecca Farr can be contacted at rfarr@ksc.keene.edu

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Chock Full O’ Notes, the Keene State College a cappella group, rocked Pumpkin Fest as they Ă€OOHG 0DLQ 6WUHHW ZLWK VRXQGV from Keri Hilson to Eric Clapton. A group of 17 CFON members, including the club’s very own beat boxer, gathered in front of Saint Bernard’s church at 3 p.m. and performed seven songs. Jeff Slark, senior and fourth semester member in CFON, said his favorite part about performing at Pumpkin Fest is making people smile. As spectators walked by, anyone could tell that it would be GLIĂ€FXOW QRW WR WDNH D PLQXWH WR listen. “Anyone that likes to hear music appreciates it [their performance]. I love it,â€? Slark said. “These kids are great.â€? “What a voice,â€? a spectator from the crowd said as the singing group belted out Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep.â€? CFON even did a little bit of dancing with the fun, upbeat closing song, “Do You Love Me?â€? by the Contours. However, CFON was not the beginning nor end of the day of performances at Keene’s 2012 Pumpkin Festival. Earlier that day, the KSC Dance Team performed on the Main Stage in front of Athen’s Pizza. The all-women dance team EURXJKW D Ă DVK IRUZDUG WR +DOloween with their skeleton face paint and Halloween-themed performances. The group performed once as zombies, danced to a song from the ever-popular movie, “Hocus Pocus,â€? as well as the Addams Family theme song. “I loved their faces,â€? Katie Nunes, a KSC student, said. “Some of them are my roommates and I see them practice it doesn’t look perfect but it’s really cool to see them perform and it looks perfect!â€? The dance team’s captain, Lisa

Garamella, said the group had been preparing for this event for about three weeks. Garamella said their Pumpkin Fest performance differs from most because the crowd is bigger and more diverse than the normal fans they would see at competitions or at KSC basketball games. “I love seeing the kids,â€? Garamella said. “Being around and in the community means a lot to us.â€? Another dance group at Pumpkin Fest who dedicated their time and effort to the community is the Boston Community Dance Project. The contemporary-based dance company included all different backgrounds from hip-hop, jazz and ballet. The founder and choreographer of Boston Community Dance Project, Arielle Payes, said the group has prepared for Pumpkin Fest’s performance for about a month and although they are a contemporary group, they also dance to send a message to the community. Fellow choreographer of the group Sarah-Kay said they have done pieces about domestic violence and the group plans to hold a winter fundraiser to raise suicide awareness and prevention. Payes said the group is in the process of becomLQJ QRQSURĂ€W ´:H¡UH DOO about the community and people really getting a message from our dances. We love to dance and we just want to do what we can,â€? she said. Past the ferris wheel and through the endless shelves of pumpkins on the corner of Main Street and Cypress Street stood a small table with two Peruvian men behind it. Both of those men are members of the music and dance group Inkas Wasi. One was working retail— selling albums and wood-

EMILY FEDORKO / SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

Above: Up and coming local musician Erene performs in front of Athens Pizza.

Left: Break dancers perform for a crowd on the Main Street stage.

(92/87,21 (Cont. from C4)

continued, “It has grown into one of the fall festivals for New England. Regardless of the competition, it is going to attract people.� Junior Kelsey Bumsted said, “Freshman year, it (Pumpkin Festival) scared me. It was like a crazy circus of people. Last year, it was clean and family oriented.� Senior Stephanie O’Donnell agreed that student clubs and student organizations are making more of a point to recruit more members into their organizations. And this type of involvement is helping students feel more com-

“I think the competition with other communities, who are trying to replicate what we are doing in Keene, is adding a national interest in the kind of festival and community event that we have been able to hold."

-INTERIM PRESIDEN JAY KAHN

fortable with the college campus. Sophomore Annie McCaffrey said, “I’m having more fun this year because I am more involved and more comfortable.� However, students’ involvement in the Pumpkin Festival activities is not the only aspect of the event that has changed, the number of

guests and the party activity has also had to adhere to new rules and regulations. Sophomore Erik Radermacher said that the guest policy is one of the biggest changes. Now, students who live on-campus are allowed one guest each, which will limit the amount of out-of-state

students who visit during the weekend. But this new guest policy is not helping dispel the rumors of what Pumpkin Festival is to some students. Freshmen Alyssa Tyuiodi and Kylie Flynn said that they knew of Pumpkin Festival as being a crazy time to party.

But, Bryant and Bumsted noted that this year the Keene Police Department and Campus Safety were patrolling more than usual. Over the past 22 years, the Keene Pumpkin Festival has grown into an event that has become more community-based. It is no longer solely about the college, or the residents of Keene—rather, the event has evolved in order to unite and help beat the city’s record. Sam Norton can be contacted at snorton@keene-equinox.com

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THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 2012

Keene  community  prepares  pumpkins To get a special spot on the pumpkin tower, businesses and even people could pre-register online. Some people, however, placed their carved pumpkins in the area around the cannon on Central Square hoping officials would pick their masterpieces to display for the entire town to see. -WOODWORTH

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Emily Fedorko / Senior Photographer

Left: A child looks at the various pumpkins lining Main Street. Right: The crowd takes in the pumpkins on Main Street.

Despite the rain, volunteers come together to create the magic of Pumpkin Fest MICHAEL WOODWORTH

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LQJ RIÀFLDOV ZRXOG SLFN WKHLU PDVWHUSLHFHV WR GLVSOD\ IRU WKH HQWLUH WRZQ WR VHH 7KH *HQHVLV .HHQH &HQWHU D ORFDO QXUV LQJ KRPH DGGHG WR WKH VOHZ RI SXPSNLQV WKDW OLQHG WKH VWUHHWV DQG VLGHZDONV $F FRUGLQJ WR *HRUJH :HVFKH WKH GLUHFWRU RI DFWLYLWLHV VDLG WKH UHVLGHQWV RI WKH KRPH DQG WKHLU IDPLOLHV FDUYHG RYHU SXPS NLQV WKLV \HDU ´:H WU\ WR GR WKLV HYHU\ \HDU µ KH VDLG +H DGGHG WKDW LQ SDVW \HDUV D EXV IXOO RI UHVLGHQWV DQG SXPSNLQV FDPH WR WRZQ ZKHQ WKH URDGV ZHUHQ·W DV SDFNHG ZLWK WUDI ÀF DQG IHVWLYDO JRHUV Michael Woodworth can be contacted at mwoodworth@keene-equinox.com

THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 2012

C13 / PUMPKIN FESTIVAL

Seniors  enjoy  last  celebration WHITNEY CYR

M ANAGING EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Cyan Magenta Yellow Black

For many seniors this year, Saturday, Oct. 20 marked their IRXUWK DQG ÀQDO 3XPSNLQ )HVWLYDO :KLOH HYHU\ IHVWLYDO KROGV VRPHWKLQJ VSHFLDO IRU .HHQH 6WDWH &ROOHJH VWXGHQWV VHQLRUV WKLV \HDU ZHUH HVSHFLDOO\ QRVWDOJLF DERXW WKHLU ÀQDO \HDU FDUYLQJ SXPSNLQV MRXUQH\LQJ GRZQWRZQ WR VXUYH\ WKH PDVV RI MDFN R ODQWHUQV RU WDNLQJ D SDUW LQ VRPH PRUH WUDGLWLRQDO FROOHJH H[SHULHQFHV DURXQG WKH EDUV DQG DW SDUWLHV -DNH %ODNH D .6& VHQLRU VDLG KH FRPSOHWHO\ HQMR\HG 3XPSNLQ )HVW WKLV \HDU DQG DQ LPSRUWDQW DVSHFW RI WKDW ZDV EHFDXVH KH OLYHV RII FDPSXV ´,W ZDV D GLIIHUHQW WKDQ P\ ÀUVW WKUHH 3XPSNLQ )HVW EHFDXVH , OLYH RII FDPSXV ,QVWHDG RI JRLQJ RXW ZLWK DOO RI P\ GRUP PDWHV , JRW WR VSHQG WLPH ZLWK P\ URRPPDWHV DQG P\ IULHQGV RII FDPSXV , VSHQW VRPH WLPH ZLWK DOXPQL WRR µ KH VDLG %ODNH VDLG ZLWK WKH JXHVW SROLF\ RQ FDPSXV VWXGHQWV FRXOGQ·W EULQJ XS DV PDQ\ IULHQGV DV WKH\ ZRXOG KDYH OLNHG EXW EHLQJ RII FDPSXV DOORZHG KLP WR EH ZLWK D ORW PRUH RI KLV IULHQGV WKDQ XVXDO ´:H JRW WR LQYLWH PRUH IULHQGV PXFK PRUH IULHQGV 7KH ELJJHVW EHQHÀW WKLV \HDU ZDV EULQJLQJ ZKRHYHU ZH ZDQWHG µ ,Q DGGLWLRQ %ODNH VDLG LW VHHPHG DV WKRXJK 3XPSNLQ )HVW ZDV PXFK PRUH RUJDQL]HG GRZQWRZQ ZKLFK PDGH LW EHWWHU WKDQ ODVW \HDU $V IRU LW EHLQJ KLV YHU\ ODVW 3XPSNLQ )HVW %ODNH VDLG ´7KLV LV RXU ODVW FKDQFH WR HQMR\ LW ZKLOH ZH FDQ DQG UHDOO\ PDNH WKH EHVW RI LW $Q\ RWKHU \HDU \RX FDQ VD\ ¶QH[W \HDU ZRXOG EH EHWWHU ··· KH VDLG ´, WKLQN \RX PDNH \RXUVHOI KDYH IXQ EHFDXVH \RX NQRZ LW·V \RXU ODVW RQH 7KLV ZDV WKH EHVW 3XPSNLQ )HVW IRU PH E\ IDU DQG , FDQ VD\ LW ZDV PRUH IXQ WKDQ DOO WKH RWKHU RQHV SXW WRJHWKHU µ 2OLYLD 0DUWLQRWWL VDLG VKH KDG D ORW RI IXQ DV ZHOO EXW VKH GLGQ·W JR GRZQWRZQ WKLV \HDU ´/DVW \HDU , KDG DERXW WHQ RI P\ IULHQGV IURP KRPH XS VR , KDG WR EDE\VLW HYHU\RQH 7KLV \HDU , KXQJ RXW ZLWK P\ IULHQGV IURP VFKRRO µ 0DUWLQRWWL VDLG VKH ZDV DOVR XSVHW WKLV ZDV KHU ODVW 3XPSNLQ )HVW ´, KDYH WKH LQWHQWLRQ RI FRPLQJ XS QH[W \HDU EXW LW·V QRW JRLQJ WR EH D SULRULW\ DQ\PRUH µ VKH VDLG ´, GRQ·W OLNH WKLQNLQJ DERXW EHLQJ D VHQLRU µ 0DUWLQRWWL HPSKDVL]HG VKH WUXO\ HQMR\HG WKLV \HDU·V 3XPSNLQ )HVW EXW LW·V XSVHWWLQJ WR VHH LW SDVV 6WHIDQ &DYH]]DOL VDLG KH ZDVQ·W DV XSVHW WR VHH WKLV EHLQJ KLV ODVW 3XPSNLQ )HVW WKLV \HDU ´+DYLQJ LW EH P\ ODVW \HDU LW ZDV D PRWLYDWRU WR PDNH LW D JRRG 3XPSNLQ )HVW 0\ SDUHQWV FDPH XS WKLV \HDU DQG ZH ZHQW GRZQWRZQ :H ZHUH RII FDPSXV WKLV \HDU VR P\ IULHQGV DQG , KDG PRUH IUHHGRP µ KH VDLG &DYH]]DOL VDLG ZLWK OHVV 5HVLGHQWLDO /LIH UHVWULFWLRQV RQ JXHVWV EHLQJ DEOH WR KDYH PRUH IULHQGV XS PDGH KLV H[SHULHQFH WKDW PXFK EHWWHU ´7KLV LV SUREDEO\ P\ ÀQDO RQH , GRQ·W NQRZ ZKHUH ,·OO EH QH[W \HDU , KDG D EXQFK RI IULHQGV WKH RQH WLPH RI WKH \HDU ZH JHW WR VHH DOO RXU IULHQGV DQG FHOHEUDWH EHLQJ VHQLRUV DQG FHOHEUDWH WKH IRXU \HDUV WKDW ZH·YH KDG WRJHWKHU µ KH VDLG &DYH]]DOL VDLG KH DQG KLV IULHQGV ZHUH WDONHG DERXW LI 3XPSNLQ )HVW ZDV HYHU\ VLQJOH ZHHNHQG DQG WKH\ DOO DJUHHG LW ZRXOG ORVH LWV FKDUP ´7KHUH·V VRPHWKLQJ VSHFLDO DERXW WKH IDFW WKDW LW RQO\ KDSSHQV IRXU WLPHV GXULQJ RXU FROOHJH \HDUV µ

13

EMILY FEDORKO / SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

Whitney Cyr can be contacted at wcyr@keene-equinox.com

For KSC seniors, strolling around Main St. during Pumpkin Fest was their last time doing so.

)(67,9$/ )22' (Cont. from C3)

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´, ZDV VR KDSS\ WR ÀQG D IULHG SLFNOH ERRWK µ MXQLRU &HOHVWH 7KLEDXOW VDLG ´7KH\ ZHUH GHOLFLRXV , DWH D ZKROH ER[ µ 0RVW RI WKH YHQGRUV VROG IRRG WR UDLVH PRQH\ IRU WKHLU EXVLQHVVHV VXFK DV WKH 6XUU\ 9LOODJH &KDUWHU 6FKRRO .HHQH &RPPXQLW\ .LWFKHQ 5DYHQV %DVHEDOO WHDP .HHQH )LUH 'HSDUWPHQW DQG 0DUNHW %DVNHW )DPLO\ DQG IULHQGV ZHUH SOHQW\ IXOO DIWHU WKH IHVWLYDO WKDQNV WR WKH FODVVLF DQG QRQ WUDGLWLRQDO IRRGV VROG Kaitlyn Coogan can be contacted at kcoogan@keene-equinox. com

C14 / PUMPKIN FESTIVAL

THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 2012

Resident  halls  feel  the  power  of  Campus  Safety  MORGAN MARKLEY

EQUINOX STAFF ERIC JEDD

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

14

Black

Whether it’s a man dressed up as Freddy Krueger or a man dressed up as a mermaid during Pumpkin Fest in Keene, N.H., the scariest sight may be what happened in the dorms at Keene State College on Saturday night. It is evident that even with the guest policy change students were getting into trouble. Outside of Carle Hall, a freshman dorm, Saturday night four students were stopped by Campus Safety and asked to empty all the beers they had in their backpacks. Meanwhile, another three students were heard yelling about the need to purchase marijuana outside of Carle Hall. About 12 students huddled around outside looking for the nearest party while smoking their cigarettes. Down the road near the sophomore dorm, Butler, two male students yelled at HDFK RWKHU DVNLQJ IRU D ÀJKW ZKLFK XOWLmately did not happen. As these students stumbled down Appian Way it was apparent that neither Campus Safety nor housing and Residential Life would be able to stop events that happen on campus, but instead try to minimize them. Director of Residential Life and Housing, Kent Drake-Deese said that this year to avoid more damages and issues the KSC guest policy changed. Drake-Deese

said the reasoning behind the change was, “During Pumpkin Fest there are a truckload of high-level accidents, most of it 95 percent that is attributable not to our students but their guests.� After the policy change, Drake-Deese said he would like to lessen the amount of damages. “You pay for that if there is a guest smashing a couch,� he said. Amanda Warman, director of Campus Safety, said, “[Campus Safety’s] goal during Pumpkin Fest is the same as the rest of the year and that’s maximizing safety.� Shannon Lombard, a senior and resi-

assaults of students and tons of damage.â€? He said that two years ago students were allowed to have three guests each. During the daytime at Pumpkin Fest, &DPSXV 6DIHW\ RIĂ€FHUV NHSW WUDFN RI SDUNing for students, parents, faculty, and alumni. When the sun went down however, Campus Safety took on the task of making sure intoxicated students are protected from others, but more importantly, themselves, “We try to ensure students aren’t participating or displaying behavior that is unsafe,â€? Warman said. According to Drake-Deese the student reaction is mixed about the policy change. He said some of the students said that the KRXVLQJ RIĂ€FH LV ´HYLO DQG WKH\ FDQ¡W ZDLW to move off campus.â€? Freshman desk attendant Connor Vail said students were not angry about the new change in policy. He said some students said they were unaware of the policy change. Senior Resident Assistant Leann ERIC DECESARE / EQUINOX STAFF Lam said she thinks the Keene communident assistant in Carle Hall, said, “They’ve ty could be behind the change in guests, “I [students] have been more responsible than think because there are so many students last year, I am surprised.â€? She said, “There here damaging things during Pumpkin was nothing out of the ordinary, only Fest, which the community just doesn’t DURXQG Ă€YH VWXGHQWV ZHUH ZULWWHQ XS Âľ 6KH want to deal with it anymore.â€? also said there was no visible damage to the Drake-Deese said the goal for Residendorm, and to her knowledge there were no tial Life is to make sure, “everyone’s safe.â€? Ă€JKWV RU DUUHVWV PDGH She said this year her biggest fear was, Morgan Markley and Eric Jedd can be con“People getting so intoxicated and causing tacted at mmarkley@keene-equinox.com and harm to others and themselves,â€? but that, ejedd@ksc.keene.edu “this year has been calmer than the rest.â€? . Drake-Deese said two years ago, “There were brawls, groups of people on campus,

3(33(5 635$< (Cont. from C10)

the air. He said the wind carries the spray, party on Wilcox Terrace. Carson said he 0RUULV VDLG KLV SDUW\ EHJDQ WR RYHUĂ RZ and depending on where someone might witnessed several cops “just waltz into just after the party on Wilcox was broken be, they may or may not be affected. WKH EDFN\DUG DQG WHOO HYHU\RQH WR Ă€QLVK RU up. At that time, according to Morris, he Tenney explained a misconception he dump their beer and leave.â€? approached a cop passing by and was told heard from many students and said that &DUVRQ VDLG KH VSRNH WR RQH RIĂ€FHU DQG by the cop that he should shut down the WKH RIĂ€FHUV GLG QRW VSUD\ PDFH said, “One came up to me personally and party. Morris claimed he then turned the He said, “They [the students] call it said very angrily to dump out my beer and music off and began telling his guests to mace, they think it’s a chemical agent, ev- please leave. I was like, ‘I’m 21, I don’t re- leave. erything we use as far as the Keene police ally care.’â€? Carson said he witnessed a ma“We were trying to work with the police and pepper spray—there’s no man-made jority of the party shouting “[Expletive] the and cooperate,â€? Morris explained. The sechemicals, it’s a water-based spray that police.â€? QLRU VDLG ZLWKLQ Ă€YH PLQXWHV RI KLV HIIRUWV contains a hot pepper. It’s not mace, it’s not Carson said the party was “nothing to move people off his property, four cops tear gas, it’s completely natural and not outrageousâ€? and said everyone in atten- entered his backyard and began spraying. man-made or anything like that. It does dance was being smart. “I never heard a warning from them. I create some problems for people--people 7HQQH\ VWDWHG WKH VHFRQG KRPH RIĂ€FHUV asked a few kids who were back there, if standing down wind.â€? sprayed was at the residency of KSC senior they heard them-- it was pretty loud and In the case of Wilcox Terrace, Senew Andrew Morris, at 18 Blake Street. people were talking. [The police] only said claimed he heard no warnings or requests Morris said he and his housemates it a couple times,â€? Morris said. from police before the pepper spray. planned to host a party for Pumpkin Fest At Blake St., Tenney explained, there Senew said, “I’m pretty sure they liter- and registered their party with Keene Po- were plenty of people in attendance who ally just walked onto the property into the lice Department in anticipation for Satur- were “there to have a good time, not causmiddle of the party and they just started day. ing any problems.â€? Tenney said this was pepper spraying. I don’t think they really According to Tenney, on Saturday af- “typically the majority,â€? at parties like the PDGH DQ\ HIIRUW WR UHDOO\ WU\ WR Ă€JXUH RXW ternoon KPD received a call from a renter one held at Blake. But Tenney explained who owned the property, they just walked on one side of the Blake Street duplex who the pressure from the homeowners and through the yard.â€? Senew continued and asked police to disband the party because the fact that the cops were outnumbered is said he thought the pepper spray was it had “gotten out of hand.â€? what led to the use of the pepper spray. “over the top,â€? as his party was, in his opinTenney said the caller claimed their Morris said that once everyone moved ion, contained. house and cars were being bothered, and off the property, he and his housemates atSenew’s housemate, junior Ben Tirlia, people whom they did not know were en- WHPSWHG WR WDON WR WKH RIĂ€FHUV agreed and said the pepper spray was “un- tering their house. Tenney said the caller He said, “They really didn’t tell us anynecessary.â€? “requested assistance in gaining control thing. They started being disrespectful to Senior Matthew Carson attended the back to their property.â€? us—even though we were the owners of

the house they refused to talk to us or give us any reason. We were trying to talk to us and be respectful and they wouldn’t hear a word from us.â€? Morris continued, “From our side, I think it would have been enough just having the presence of the police in the uniforms would have been enough to kick us RXW ,W ZDV OHVV WKDQ Ă€YH PLQXWHV IURP WKH time we killed the music and they started spraying, they didn’t give us time to clear out. We were trying to work with them and we did comply and turn off the music and ask people to leave; we thought it was excessive force to spray.â€? Tenney commented and said he has seen KPD use pepper spray during the Red Sox riots in the past. “That’s the same type of situation,â€? he said. Commenting on the 2012 Pumpkin Fest, Tenney said it did not seem any more out of control than other years. He said, “I think it’s the norm for what it has evolved into for the last couple of years. It’s comparative to what it was last year.â€? But for the six or seven hundred who were sprayed, this year’s Pumpkin Fest reigns over years past. Julie Conlon can be contacted at jconlon@keene-equinox.com.

THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 2012

C15 / PUMPKIN FESTIVAL

Crossing  the  line:

Celebration  and  chaos HANNAH WALKER

OPINIONS EDITOR

There remains a tension between what constitutes as “festive� and how people choose to celebrate. -WALKER ble behavior. While the choice to drink to the point of oblivion may be somewhat sanctioned on Pumpkin Fest, it should be questioned why this may be the case. We as Americans have an interesting and oftentimes contesting view of alcoholic consumption, one which other industrialized countries—such as Canada and places in Europe—do not maintain. This is partly due to our higher age requirement for alcohol, but also to the fact that Americans are infamous for overindulging. When we view only one or two days out of the year as days to “get wasted� we effectively create an atmosphere of expected intoxication on those d a y s . This, in

turn, often gets used as an excuse for antisocial behavior. Overall, the majority of people who decide to participate in the drunken experience of Pumpkin Fest do not go out of their way to cause disruption or distress for those around them. However, those who GR GHFLGH WR KDUDVV SROLFH RIÀFHUV GHVWUR\ property, and damage that which is not theirs should recognize that their behavior affects not only themselves, but the entire Keene community. We have all heard over and over again how Pumpkin Fest is WKH PRVW FULPH ÀOOHG WLPH RI WKH \HDU EXW it seems that we still have failed to try and change that. It is a personal choice to celebrate in whatever way; it is not the community’s responsibility to excuse or accommodate behavior that may result from poor decision-making. Though Pumpkin Fest may inherently create an environment where social sanctions against drinking are lifted temporarily, in the morning we are still here to deal with the aftermath. Hannah Walker can be contacted at hwalker@keene-equinox.com

Kelsey Durato / Equinox Staff

15

Black

Pumpkin Fest. Two words that mean more to the Keene State College community and the larger Keene area than any other. These two words also have the ability to simultaneously generate enormous excitement and—from those who choose to stay indoors and away from the crowds—fear. This year’s Pumpkin Fest proved to live up to the infamy it has garnered over the past 22 years—from the increase in registered pumpkins (29,186 this year compared to the “measly� 16,186 last year) to the increased police vigilance and a hard stance on parties. Although for some Pumpkin Fest means a one-time shot to get as drunk as possible, the festival continues to provide a family-friendly atmosphere amidst a town sometimes overrun with college students who remain unconcerned about how their drunken antics affect others. With the help of extra police reinforcement and hundreds of volunteers, Keene transformed from a college town with a reputation to a place where families and friends could explore all of what the area has to offer—both in terms of local products and music. Throughout the festival’s history, the focus has always been on providing an

atmosphere of celebration and festivity. However, there remains a tension between what constitutes as “festiveâ€? and how people choose to celebrate. Public drunkenness and disorderly conduct are two conseTXHQFHV RI WKH Ă€QH OLQH EHWZHHQ FHOHEUDWLRQ and irresponsibility. Although people are free to spend Pumpkin Fest however they choose—whether that be in a state of consciousness or not—they should always remain aware of how their antics and actions are affecting those around them, particularly towards those who are choosing to celebrate the day in a sober fashion. Being drunk—regardless of what special occasion it may be—is no excuse for aggressive, disruptive or otherwise socially i r r e s p o n s i-

C14 / PUMPKIN FESTIVAL

THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 2012

Pumpkin

Fest 2012 Lighting up the night 16

Cyan Magenta Yellow Black RYAN GLAVEY / ADMINISTRATIVE EXECUTIVE EDITOR

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