Fun-filled fest draws crowds

Some said it was Spring Fling all over again -- but without the beer. Others called it the perfect opportunity to stock up on free Kellogg's Pop Tarts and Agree Shampoo. To still other students, it was a chance to sumo wrestle with their roommates to decide who has to clean up the bathroom -- once and for all. But for whatever reason, hundreds of students poured into Hill Field to participate in the Sports Illustrated Campus Fest yesterday. Featuring more than 20 activities and product information tents, the Campus Fest is a nationwide campus touring event designed to expose students to different consumer products in a "relaxed atmosphere," according to Rob Thibault, a spokesperson for the MarketSource Corporation, which organized the event. The Campus Fest will continue today until 4 p.m. One of the more popular features of the Campus Fest was the Sony Auto Sound karaoke, where students were able to belt out their favorite tunes on stage with sophisticated Sony stereo equipment amplifying their sounds for all of University City to hear. "Making a fool of yourself can be fun," said Engineering freshman Ed O'Shay, who sang the Monkees' theme song with College freshman Andy Waldrum. "I do it in my room all the time." But O'Shay said the joy of public humiliation was not his sole motivation in singing the '70s tune. The free Sony T-shirt given to all performers was what made him sing, he said. "It's one more day before I have to do laundry," he explained. "I did it for the free T-shirt." Although he did not serenade Fest-goers like O'Shay, College freshman Jamal Harris caught the attention of others by beating his roommate, Engineering freshman Anthony Crawford, in a jousting match with foam- padded lances. "He hit me on the head with a light blow and then I caught him the chest and he went flying," Harris said. "People were screaming my name out." Crawford said that his victory was not completely a foregone conclusion, however. "I soared past him by doing a back flip on his back," Crawford said. While some students said they came to the Campus Fest to take part in the various amusements -- including bungee jumping, Hot Shot Basketball and an obstacle course -- others went to collect the many free samples offered. "I got got a T-shirt," said College freshman David Prescott. "And I got a plethora of deodorants and Pop Tarts." But College freshman Janet Cohen said she found the selection of free samples lacking. "There's a sexist selection of deodorants," she said. "There's only Right Guard. I didn't see any deodorants for women." Michael Formichella, a co-organizer of the event, said more students turned out for this Campus Fest than any other held this year. So far, the Campus Fest has visited the Universities of Kansas, Pittsburgh and Iowa, he said.

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