Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: News

A student races in an inflatable bungee run during last year's Spring Fling in the Library Quad. This year's event, Wild Safari, will take place at noon today in the Library Quad. (File Photo/The Daily Eastern News)

Students can see a monkey wearing a diaper from noon to 3 p.m. today in the Library Quad during the third annual Spring Fling.

"Spring Fling: Wild Safari" will feature 10 wild animals in an exotic animal farm, including the monkey, some exotic birds, snakes, parrots and a giant turtle.

Otis Seawood Jr., University Board special events coordinator, said the animals are being presented because they fit the "Wild Safari" theme.

"In order to bring a safari effect, we decided we would add some exotic animals," Seawood said.

Along with exotic animals, the event will have an inflatable climbing wall and obstacle course.

Photo key chains and photo magnets will be handed out, and students can play bingo under a tent or create spin art.

Students can take a plain Frisbee and shoot paint on it with a paint gun during spin art.

The bingo prizes include a television, a Brookfield Zoo package with hotel and parking passes for two days and one night, Dave and Buster's gift cards, various CDs and various Eastern apparel from the Eastern bookstore.

Seawood said Spring Fling is usually one of the bigger UB-hosted events, with a total cost of about $10,000.

This number is a little higher than the cost of the Up All Nites during the year, he said.

Ceci Brinker, director of Student Life, said the "Spring Fling: Wild Safari" is a large event for students to end the year on a good note before studying for finals begins.

"It is a chance for students to have a good time before they have to bear down on the books," she said.

Brinker said the event should be a fun way for students to unwind with entertainment, games, food and prizes before the end of the school year.

A highlight of having live animals is that students will get an educational experience.

"They will learn some new things, such as the native habitat, behavior, species, interaction with humans," Brinker said. "Students should take advantage of the opportunity because they would not get a chance to see these exotic and tropical animals unless they were at the zoo or studying abroad."

Mike Usher, UB chair, said students will enjoy the petting zoo and the bingo prizes.

"The monkey is usually out all day," he said.

Usher said people could take pictures with the animals with their own cameras or phones for their keepsake.

Food from Joey's in Charleston, such as hot dogs and hamburgers, will be available to eat at the event.

Brinker said this type of event works better outside because it allows more room for the animals, along with the games.

"We are hoping the weather holds up," she said. "Otherwise, we will improvise."

Seawood said the event will take place rain or shine, but the inflatable climbing wall and obstacle course wall will be taken down if the weather were bad.

The UB helped put the event together, along with the men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.

Student Community Service and the Parent's Club helped out as well.


Heather Holm can be reached at 581-7942 or at haholm@eiu.edu.

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