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LifeStyle
The Journal October 15-28, 2009
FallFest 2009 BY KELLY KENDALL Editor-in-Chief
A Ferris Wheel almost as tall as the parking garage gave the Webster University community a new view of campus during the Homecoming FallFest Friday, Oct. 9. For the carnival, Elizabeth Eisele, a graduate assistant in the University Center and for Student Activities, said 173 parking spots in Lot L by Pearson House were closed off and used to house seven rides — a Ferris wheel, the Round-Up, bumper cars, the Zumer, Monkey Mayhem, the Spider and a carousel. The rides all gave the feel of a traditional carnival, said Cristina Alfara, a senior political science major. “This is awesome,” said Alfaro after getting off the Zumer. “I reverted back to my two-year-old self. This should be a yearly occurrence. I would come back after graduation to do this again.” Students, faculty, staff and parents and alumni who registered for the weekend were all given a free-ride wristband and students 10 free game tickets. For the outside community, the wristband for unlimited rides cost $10 and the game tickets were $1 each or $5 for six. By nighttime, Lot L gave off the appearance of a full-blown carnival, with the lights of the seven rides tightly packed together. “I did this more for students to come out and feel like part of the Webster community and experience part of the fair feel,” Eisele said. Even the Scott family from Webster Groves came to visit the community. Trevor, 10, and Fiona, 7, play violin in the Suzuki Program at WU’s Community Music School (CMS). Because they are both technically enrolled at WU, they were able to come to the carnival for free. “I really liked the Round-Up and the bumper cars,” Trevor
Scott said. “We got to crash into people and it was fun seeing them laugh.” Trevor and Fiona’s mom, Lisa, said even though her children have been taking classes at the CMS for six and three years, respectively, this is the first time her family has participated in homecoming. “We really hope they do this next year,” Lisa Scott said. “This is the first thing that’s drawn in the Community Music students. The only other thing we’ve really done is the Fourth of July parade. It makes us happy to feel like part of the community.” Eisele said she thought of organizing a carnival instead of the traditional yearly concert because she was hoping it would bring more people out for Homecoming weekend. The dynamic of a concert, Eisele said, was only such that a certain group of students would come — people who liked the genre of music being featured. Citing last year’s Ben Lee concert, Eisele said Campus Activities did not get the turnout it had hoped for. “When we do surveys every year, a lot of them come back with the suggestion of a carnival,” Eisele said. “When we do a concert, we don’t have the budget for something like a carnival.” Eisele modeled the carnival at WU after a traditional Parish picnic, minus the beer garden, but including the traditional carnival rides, which were suggested to her by Tinsley Amusements, the company who provided the rides. The hope, Eisele said, was not only to get students to come, but also the general public. “Unlike the concert, which is for a certain group, we hoped that the carnival would bring out more people,” she said. “We wanted alumni to come and bring their kids and we wanted the outside community to
WU spins into first-ever carnival for annual campus celebration
come and see what Webster’s all about.” Garden Avenue, between the entrance to the parking garage and the entrance to the Webster Village Apartments, was closed to make room for 10 game booths. Games like the ring toss, krazy kans, musical chairs and frog toss were provided by American Carnival. Eisele said Campus Activities provided all of the prizes, which included Beatles Rock Band, dinner for eight at WU President Elizabeth Stroble’s house, a digital camera, clothing, bed sheets and DVDs. “That’s what parents did in Parish picnics — parents ran it and provided all of the stuff,” Eisele said. “Like the parents’ did, I wanted to take the hassle out.” Paul Hibbler, a senior creative writing major, said he used his free game tickets and won at the tick-tack-toe toss game and was particularly excited about the traditional games and rides, like bumper cars. “I am totally going to railroad my friends,” he said. “I like to keep it classy. The carousel is awesome because it’s totally oldschool. I named my horse Silver.” Despite the bitter chill of fall weather and the previous 36 hours of rain that hit St. Louis before the carnival, more than 500 students, staff, alumni and their friends and family still came out to enjoy the rides and games with virtually no lines, Eisele said. “I just hope people enjoyed it and didn’t focus on street closures and parking lots,” Eisele said. “I hope, if you came, hopefully you enjoyed it and people understand that the benefits of having a carnival outweigh the hassles.” Contact the writer: editor@webujournal.com
SAM DITTMANN / The Journal
Ethan Mendenhall, 4, rides the carousel at Webster University’s first carnival for Homecoming Friday, Oct. 9.
Students ride the Round-Up at Webster University’s Homecoming Carnival on the parking lot across from the parking garage.
THEO WELLING / The Journal
SAM DITTMANN / The Journal
Sophomore Ryan Fassler gives a thumbs-up while riding the carousel at Webster’s Homecoming Carnival on Friday, Oct. 9.
A couple huddles up on the Ferris Wheel during the chilly Friday night carnival.
THEO WELLING / The Journal
SAM DITTMANN / The Journal
LASO (Latin American Student Organization) President Cristina Alfaro rides the swings during the carnival.