Eastern Illinois University - Warbler Yearbook (Charleston, IL)

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by John Bearden, Jr. Those who don't go will certainly hear about it be- cause it's one of the events that gets the school year rolling. Vast quantities of food and beer ialmost 800 kegs of Busch, Budweiser, and Schlitz, 4000 pounds of bratwurstg 2000 quarters of chicken, 65 cases of German potato salad, 1500 pounds of fish, and 60 cases of sauerkraut and red cabbagei disappear down the throats of participants. Students from Eastern, Lakeland, U. of I., Illinois State, Indiana State, and Southern, as well as local citizens and visitors make the trip to the fairground site at Altamont. The event is the Schuetzen- fest, it occurs the third week- end of September and has since 1966. Proceeds go to Schuetzenfest, Inc. The money, 360,000 so far, is used for various community projects. According to Dorothy Wolf, secretary-treasurer of Schuetzen- fest, Inc., the fairground's buildings and playgrounds are examples of the projects. Shares were sold to gather initial capital, but since the first fest in 1966, it's been selfsupporting. ln German, Schuetzenfest means shooting match. There are still trapshooting contests. However, the social aspects such as squaredancing, polkaing and drinking probably appeal to more people. German bands for tradition and rock bands for the younger generation keep the dancers moving. Responses to the festival from the students are almost universally positive. They praise the occasion as fun and an escape from the ordinary. The affair is also described as a cuItural experience and quite an experience. Freeport Sophomore Keith Johnson said, from what I can remember, it was thoroughly enjoyable. One student who wished to remain anonymous thought the Schuetzenfest an appropriate area for University funding. Tim Yonke, a senior from Kankakee, said, - lt's really great to see thousands of people make asses of them- selves and thoroughly enjoy it. Some of the town's 2,000 citizens are not as enthusiastic. They fear the intrusion of marijuana. Destruction has often plagued the event. Part of a fence was destroyed and about 100 chairs were burnt in 1974. At this year's festival, a float was devastated. To guard against such vandalism, the Civil Defense is present along with elements of the local and state consta- bulary. Craig Becker, a member of the Schutzenfest board, contends that the fair could not be held at all without the Civil Defense because it would turn into a riot. Even some students complain. There are parking and traffic problems. Tom Taylor, sopho- more from Mattoon, said, I think they should have more beer trucks because you had to wait so long in line-unless you come at noon. The long lines for chips and--more of a com- pliment than a complaint--the feeling that it doesn't last long enough also bothers a few. 2. 3 s st Wx Effingham County Sheriffs and local police spent a lot of their time lwhen they weren't directing endless traffici keeping beer drinkers under control.

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-'bd Y w 1 kb-03 A , .. '15 2 l-ag lil Q- T' ' o -, , .1 5.1 , I' , 1 f' V!! F vi s' at 3 f dk Ill 1,3 ff mlllllllll G G 'fix 'T 'X 3 G N 1 P ' Q fy? 1 , , I ' f ,A viz 3 ev f . uf , gg., -5. A l f . . E . x + ' - O 249 X 1 -L Q T' T. l . ' Q es T l W Q. T l l Q f 94 - , 4 U .1 '3 Dil X., I , W ,AQ . I If I U 0- mx ye i V lf, , 7 5 Y 2 V f xy ,f Y I L A J 1 1 X ' ' E k MRL I x X In O A ' ' i 'X 1' -ff Q A ' ' af. :Lu , 1. A- ' ' '- , gg ' - Q, 1 'fl is T-I . i . XI! K , g F QL - -l it P li J El ' z tl - l Vi x 7 E' V -X ' 6 E xc . A fr f ii., t l f f , , S.. ,f , Nfl ga... r ft Overcrowding: by Leesa L. Willis A man of small stature paced ner- vously across the front of the room, wiping his wet brow with an already saturated handkerchief. Over eighty students listened attentively--fifty sandwiched between four walls and the remainder filed down the hall. Those words paint a picture of a situation old to many institutions, yet new to Eastern---overc rowding. Nlost of the criticisms and com- plaints ofthe effects of this new wave of students Eastern is accom- modating are coming from students who have been here for two or more years. They have witnessed the change, remembering when Eastern was still recognized as a small school and most classes, except lectures, only had fifteen students. Students more independent Deb Hofstetter a junior from Springfield, recalls when not only were classes smaller but also, when I lived in a quad, there were three of us, not four or five and nobody lived in the lounges. However, students do not seem to be hurting from the housing shortage as much as they might from overcrowded classes. Teachers may be limited as to what they can offer a class in subject mat- ter. This lessens the in-class experience that the individual might greatly bene fit from. lt appears, at least for the near future, that large classes will be a nec- essity. lf students need extra help, they will have to do more on their own to seek it out. Jeane Gunkel a senior from Elk Grove Village, ap- proves ofthe larger classes. Although less attention might be given to stu- dents--it might help them to gain in- dependence and learn responsibility. Gunkel also notes, however, that large classes for some courses are an unreasonable solution to the over- crowding problem. An example she gave was her Advanced Public Speak- ing class. An hour speech is required to be given by each student, so the last ten weeks of the semester will be devoted solely to those speeches. This will obviously be informative,