thursday. october 30,2003
news
the university daily kansan
7A
'Rocky Horror' fans unwind at event
By Steve Schmidt
sschmidt@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Those not at the Kansas Union Ballroom last night may wonder what a piece of toast, rice, newspaper, water guns, rubber gloves and noisemakers have in common.
But to the patrons at The Rocky Horror Picture Show event, it's all part of the show.
Halloween started earlier for a couple of those hundred University of Kansas students. With more fish net than Cape Cod and an abundance of makeup, guys and girls came in all shapes and sizes to not just watch the 1975 cult classic, but to live it.
The event, which has become a tradition on campus, was sponsored by Student Union Activities. Rebecca Swick, McPherson junior, oversaw the production as spectrum films coordinator and has helped put together the program for the past two years.
"Seeing the performance live like this is completely different than sitting on the couch and watching it on the couch because of the participation," Swick said. "It's neat to see how people interact with the movie."
thing worthwhile, students said.
Megan True/Kansar
The SUA staff was busy beforehand making 250 prop packs, containing toast and rice and all the other items mentioned above, for students to pick up as they walked in the door. The students later acted in synchronization with movie during various scenes involving the props, such as rice in the movie's wedding scene. The patrons direct involvement with the movie is what makes every-
Ben Snyder, Hutchinson sophomore, came clad in a dress and heavy makeup. He was one of several cast members in attendance from Hashinger Hall's production of the movie last spring.
Ben Snyder, Hutchinson sophomore, and Kitty Rallo, Colorado Springs, Colo., sophomore, won first and second place at The Rocky Horror Picture Show costume contest. The 1975 film played last night at the Kansas Union Ballroom.
"The movie by itself sucks," Snyder said. "It's boring. There's no plot. But if you watch it with the right crowd, it's really hilarious."
"I had my Rocky virginity taken last year," Snyder said.
The first time Snyder saw the movie was at last year's event.
Kitty Rallo, clad in a green corset, glittery hair and knee-high, black leather boots among other accessories, had one of the evening's more colorful outfits. She has seen the show at similar events eight times in different venues throughout the country.
"You need the full effect. You need the crowd screaming at the screen, interacting with the movie," said the Colorado Springs, Colo., sophomore. "If you see the movie on your own, it's just like masturbating. But if you see it like this, it's like a big orgy. It helps the pleasure."
The fact that Halloween was only two days away only added to the enjoyment of the attendees.
"It's letting yourself your inner selfgo," Rallo said. "You can look how you want, and you can act how you want, and no one's going to iudge you for it."
Judging by the enthusiasm of the crowd, a lot of inner selves were let loose last night.
Movie-goers started showing up at 8 p.m. for a pre-show and an airing of the VH1's Behind the Music episode of the show. Prizes were awarded for attendance and
for trivia contests. A costume contest followed at 9:30 p.m., and the movie was shown at 10 p.m.
SUA sold 307 tickets for last year's event, said Leslie Heusted,
the organization's program director. She expected the same turnout this year.
NEW PILL: Seasonale pill uses new 91-day cycle
- Edited by Cate Batchelder
Seasonale is taken in a 91-day cycle. Active tablets are taken for 84 days, followed by seven days of placebo pills. As with the traditional pill, periods happen during the seven days of placebo pills. Because Seasonale placebos are taken only every 84 days, periods are reduced from the normal 13 per year to four.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A
This is the first time a birth control manufacturer has marketed the pill as a way to reduce periods. But the concept is nothing new, Allen said.
"Some women have been using the pill to skip their periods all along," she said.
Allen said it was common practice to skip the seven placebo pills and replace them with active ones, thereby preventing periods.
"It's the convenience of not having your period," Allen said.
She said doctors often prescribed the practice for women with very heavy bleeding or
"Some women have been using the pill to skip their periods all along"
along"
Tracey Allen
educational director of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Missouri
painful cramping during their periods.
A representative for Barr Laboratories said bleeding was similar or lighter when using Seasonale as compared to the traditional pill.
"It just freaks me out," Reel said, who recently began taking
FDA reports said Seasonale users experienced twice as much "breakthrough," or unexpected bleeding during a month, compared to traditional pill users.
Despite the convenience of only four periods students like Sarah Reel are still skeptical of Seasonale.
the traditional birth control pill. "It seems so unnatural to stop your periods that often."
The Abilene senior said she also worried about the affects Seasonale would have on a fetus, on the chance that a user did get pregnant. Reel said she would avoid the drug, because Seasonale users could possibly be unaware of a pregnancy for up to three months.
Representatives for Seasonale have not yet visited Watkins Student Health Care Center.
The Barr Laboratories representative said it was being distributed and would be available across the United States in early November.
Edited by JJ Hensley
Barr Laboratories have yet to reveal the price of Seasonale. Representatives said it would be comparable to the cost of the traditional pill: about $1 per pill or $30 per month. Some insurance policies cover some or all of the cost.
Nation Cannons blast pumpkins in 'Punkin Chunkin' play
HOWELL, Mich. — Most people prefer them baked in pies or decoratively carved.
But for Bruce Bradford, the preferred method of serving up pumpkin is to shoot it out of an air cannon. That's how he became the world champion of Punkin Chunkin — a sport where winning is a matter of distance, not taste.
This Halloween, Bradford will defend his title at the Punkin Chunkin World Championship in Delaware's Sussex County. His team triumphed in the air cannon division last year after the pumpkin they shot out of their cannon sailed 4,594 feet nearly nine-tenths of a mile
"It's something to do," Bradford said.
The sport began in the late 1990s in Delaware. The objective is to see who can shoot, propel or fling a pumpkin weighing between seven and 10 pounds the farthest.
The Associated Press
LAWRENCE AUTOMOTIVE DIAGNOSTICS INC.
842-8665 2858 2858 Four Wheel Dr.
WEEKEND OF NOV. 1 & 2
Offer Includes:
· KU Gifts & Garments
· Office, Art & Design Supplies (Software & Textbooks Excluded)
Voted Top of The Hill Adward 2003
1420 Crescent Rd. Lawrence, Ks. 66044 www.jayhawkbookstore.com
1009 Mass.
2ND & 5TH PLACE
WINNERS RELIIVE
DINNER FOR TWO
GIRL CATERERS VES
SPECIALS
$4.00 PITCHERS
$2.00 BOTTLES
$2.00 BIG DRAWS
December Grads!
- CAP/GOWN/TASSEL/HOODS from $19.95 same day pick-up (available separately)
- Personalized announcements from 99¢ (min 10 in 48 hrs)
your graduation needs are available NOW!
- Diploma frame choices from $99.00
Walk in or web site ordering available!
We are ready for your big day!
Jayhawk
Bookstore
at the top of Naismith Hill
www.jayhawkbookstore.com
843-3826 1420 Crescent Rd.
Experience the flavors of Thailand in Downtown Lawrence
*Freshly prepared Thai Curries, grilled satay, exotic rice & noodle dishie, soups, salads and specialty seafood & vegetarian entrees-all items available Mild to Thai Hot
*Full bar including Thai beer and "Thai-Friendly" wine list
- Daily drink specials
*Serving lunch and dinner daily with late-night bar service
*Banquet and meeting space available
Thai House Restaurant and Bar offers over 60 items made from traditional family recipes using authentic Thai ingredients
AUTHENTIC THAI CUISINE
724 Massachusetts • Downtown Lawrence (next to Creation Station)
312.9991