T h u r s d a y, o c t o b e r 8 , 2 0 1 5 | U s i s h i e l d . c o m | v o l . 4 6 i s s u e 8
Photo by alyssa smith | The Shield
Photography enthusiast and university alumnus Greg Niemeier frames up his next shot as other West Side Nut Club Fall Festival attendees trek to different booths Monday. Niemeier has been capturing face-stuffing moments of the festival for three years and plans to keep the tradition alive.
deep fried photography by megan thorne features@usishield.com @ShieldsterMegan
Greg Niemeier, a radio technologist at Deaconess Hospital is determined to capture the meaning of the West Side Nut Club Fall Festival, with a Sony Nex-5. Many flock to the Fall Festival for the food, Niemeier said, but he’s after something much better. Niemeier, a USI alum, who majored in radiologic and imaging sciences, said for three years he has gone to the fall festival to capture the “strangest things possible.” The 94th annual Fall Festival will feature more than 130
food booths, free entertainment, carnival attractions, people watching and on the last day, a parade. “Fall Festival has got the best people watching. There are people from all over. I think it’s kind of like people of Wal-Mart but for a festival,” Niemeier said. He said his love for observing people developed when he worked at the mall for a number of years, where the only thing he got to do there was people watch. He feels the Fall Festival is the perfect place to observe. “I think it’s pretty fun watching people stuff their face, just sitting there,” Niemeier said.
The first year, Niemeier said, he went with his camera and his friends, and they would point out different people doing strange things. Niemeier said a lot of the time walking down the streets of Fall Festival, he finds himself doing a double take and wondering if what he saw was actually real. “Sometimes you see someone dressed in an outfit you never even thought existed,” he said. He said he observes “crazy dressed” people, or someone worth taking a photo of for a period of time, but for the most part, he enjoys photographing people eating.
fall fest, PAGE 3
Photos courtesy of Greg niemeier
Greg Niemeier spends his time at the Fall Festival with a camera in hand to capture candid moments of festival-goers stuffing their faces with fried cuisine. Niemeier said he snaps photos like the ones above for his own personal pleasure because he gets a kick out of watching others chow down rather than sampling festival foods himself.
Students voice reactions to controversial Quad display
New advising center staffed, more public
by gabi wy
The Liberal Arts Advising Center began construction over the summer and opened this fall. Vice President for Finance and Administration Steve Bridges said the space was converted from classrooms. “A major goal of making advising more prominent,” Bridges said, “(is for) students to be able to see the area clearly.” Bridges said the intention is for students to feel comfortable going into an inviting area and gathering advice that helps them
news@usishield.com @ShieldsterGabi
Laura Schwindel wanted the Quad and only the Quad for the visual display protesting Planned Parenthood Sept. 30. The Students for Life president said the university Scheduling Services pushed for the event, entailing pink crosses, banners and handouts, to be held in the designated Free Speech Zone between the UC and the Orr Center.
“I said, ‘No, I want it on the Quad,’” the junior elementary education major said. “I fought for it.” Reactors took to social media to express confusion over university policy on event locations. “There is a free speech zone? Is that a real thing?” commented Stacey Kandel on Facebook. “I’m sorry, I was under the impression the United States of America was a free speech zone.” The Free Speech Zone
area allows outside speakers or groups not authorized by the university to speak or set up displays on campus. Eddie Rodriguez supported the Students For Life’s use of the Quad on Facebook. “These people weren’t protesting, they were just being (informative about) abortion and doing a small memorial for lives lost because of it,” he commented. “No megaphones and shouting were involved.”
by cara meeks cdmeeks@eagles.usi.edu
Senior social work major Katie Richardson commented on a previous story by The Shield that she was upset about this organization using the Quad while others have been delegated to the Free Speech Zone. “This won’t go unnoticed,” she commented. “It’s absolutely biased that a political and religious standpoint on this issue was allowed clearance onto the quad to perform a protest. We want answers.”
quad display, PAGE 3
The story of the people who placed their bets doubled down and produced a winning hand
become successful and graduate on time. It also helps students with financial assistance. Advising offices were originally scattered, and students had to locate their advisers for academic and financial assistance. “By creating this suite, we have the ability to help more students,” Bridges said, “and to have it staffed where it’s more public.” Liberal Arts Advising Center director Renee Rowland said, “If students aren’t sure, they can come to the advising center.”
advising center, PAGE 3
READ IT ONLINE AT USISHIELD.COM & PICK ONE UP ON STANDS