Danny Sheehan mocks the pub spots and get another reaction. The audience was the source o f the humor, but still had to pay a cover charge; how does that work out? One o f his first comments was sim ply his reaction to performing in a “ Sixteenth century nightclub” (That is, Gompei's). He then proceeded to play around with the odd resilient proper ties o f the stage (what would have happened if someone actually brought a trampoline to the act?) Later on, he noticed a large metal power cable at tached to the wall behind the stage and wondered aloud if the wall was “ male.” Considering one night last year when two comedians missed the power cable when the lighting crew
by Robert M andeville
There are a host of comedians who seem to determine their routines before actually stepping onto the stage. This gives the impression that he would still be giving his monologue i f everybody left, which leaves the audience less than satisfied. Then there’s Danny Sheehan. Many comedians have a good idea o f what gags they w ill use in order to plan their evening, and they look for whatever reactions the crowd gives for his own humor. Danny, armed with only a handful o f canned jokes and “ mini-routines," had the ability to play the audience like a baby grand piano, using actual jokes simply to fill “ dead
attached a condom to iwhis perception was quite remarkable. Danny played the audience very well (just when you thought it was safe to sit in the front row...). He made good humor with those few in the audience, carefully not alienating those he used. For example, after seeing a pair of students with headgear, he tried to get “ Mr. Hat” and “ Miss Hat” together. Some comedians w ill get a good laugh out o f everybody by making fun o f one. Danny was too much a class act to stoop to those tactics. Realizing the “ liberal” views o f many WPI students, he refused to tell jokes about homo sexuals (“ Besides, 1 don’t want to leave a bad taste in your mouth.” W ell,
almost refused.) Fortune was also in his favor that Friday night. It seemed that every time he conversed with a lady in the audi ence, her name was “ Jen.” Either he was extremely lucky or the demo graphics in this school are even more skewed than any o f us dreamed. Though he apparently didn’t actu ally need it, he did have some material for the program. Some was the regular, G-rated stuff, including a sight gag about a want ad for a sales clerk who “ must be flexible.” O f course, he de scended into the gutter for some o f his humor (“ Isn’ t it amazing that a horse can poop at full gallop? I tried once, and it didn’t work” ).
Danny ended his routine and added a pair o f “ encore” performances: two rounds o f “ The Dating Game,” the second half being one lucky guy and three bachelorettes. Sheehan, acting as Master o f Ceremonies, simply encour aged, and the comedy came naturally. It was interesting to note how men and women answered similar questions. One male boaster’s reply to a question about his “ measurements” was “ It’s only as wide as a Coke can, but it ’ s long!” When the bachelorettes were asked their measurements, each re sponded with their respective heights. Then Danny made one last com ment about how great it was to perform in a gothic basement, and left.
The Student Newspaper of Worcester Polytechnic Institute Volume 18,
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Tuesday, Septem ber 25,1990
WPI Police announce new traffic rules Chief Hanlon, Officer Muhr has over all responsibility for developing a comprehensive traffic safety program for the WPI community. “ Over the summer months, John has been working closely with his counterparts in local city, town and campus police agencies with a view
by Jo h n J. H a n lo n D ire cto r o f P ublic Safety
Jack Hanlon, the Director o f Public Safety at the Institute, has appointed Officer John Muhr to the position of Traffic Programs Officer for the WPI Police Department. According to
T r y in g
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What you’re about to read is real. O f course my creative imagination w ill lend to get in the way to keep it interest ing. It’s about rape. It’ s not about statistics or rules to prevent it form happening. I ’m writing about it from my point o f view because it happened to me. I wasn’ t raped in that I was worried about being pregnant, or hav ing some disease. Let’s just say that I have a strong leg. Oh, I know some of you are laughing, thinking it’ ll never happen to you. It happened to me. I had been going out with this guy for a long time. This was in my sopho more year in high school. We weren’t real serious or at least I didn’t think so. One day during that summer he brought me to his cellar to “ show me
towards developing this program. John focused on: traffic flow, pedes trian safety, parking facility safety and enforcement. As a result of meetings with the City o f Worcester Traffic Engineeers, a number o f pedestrian and traffic flow improvements have been jointly recommended.”
th e
something.” Now when I think back I realize that he locked the door behind us. While we were down there, I had my back to him while I read a maga zine. When I turned around, he came towards me with no clothes on. I ran to the stairs, but he caught me and threw me down in a chair and restrained me. I screamed and cried but he just stared at me with those eyes. I won’ t go into any more details, except that I kicked him and ran up the stairs where his brother let me out. That was the last time I saw him until this summer when he would come into my place of sum mer employment and just stare at me with those horrible eyes. I had blocked it out of my mind after I told my mom, and she said that I made
r e a lity
C hief Hanlon added that a number o f parking regulations for 1990-1991 have changed. (A copy of these new parking regulations can be obtained at the Police Headquarters at 35 Dean Street). According to Chief Hanlon there has been an increase in the amount of fines, approximately $5.00
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up stupid stories after using him and then dumping him. A ll those memo ries came back at the beginning o f this school year when some o f the fresh men guys teased a girl after misinter preting some o f her statements as sex ual innuendos. I felt so bad for her I almost cried. Here I am at a school where there is a ratio o f at least six guys to every gi rl. I get so scared when some of these guys get close to me. I am always reminded o f him and those horrible eyes that I see every time I close my eyes. There are some guys here with whom I can trust my life, but then they sometimes get too close and I have to back away. A t the beginning o f the school year, there was a program
on date rape that I didn't go to, afraid o f the memories it would bring back. Memories I did not want to remember. But I w ill. I w ill always remember. One guy here was my friend until I backed away, scared. Every time I looked into his eyes, I saw “ those” eyes and it scared me. I am very sorry for hurting your feelings, but you hurt mine. No, actually the guy in the tenth grade did. I can’t tell you to your face right now, but please give me time. E d ito r’s Note: The Rape H otline C risis Program on 1016 M ain Street, 799-5700, p ro vid e s c o n fid e n tia l phone counseling and assistance to victims o f rape.
in most cases. A new appeal procedure is now in place. A hearing may be requested by calling or w riting the WPI Police within 21 days o f the receipt o f a park ing violation. Hearings w ill be sched uled on the last Thursday o f each month, beginning at 8 am. The new citation notice also allows the recipient to mail their fine (by check or money order) in the ticket/ envelope provided. “ Our greatest safety concern, of couse, is keeping out service roadways clear for that potential police, fire or medical emergency. I urge all o f our community members to make a con scious effort to help us in this area,” says Hanlon. Officer Muhr has informed us that he is working closely with our Plant Services section to update parking signs in all campus lots and on all campus roadways. Ticketing had been delayed, as the WPI Police were await ing the arrival o f the above mentioned new citation notice. These new orange colored parking tickets were received at the Police Headquarters on Friday, September 21, 1990.
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