n
“We need to stop the
unwarranted attacks built on
ignorance and undue animosity
Chris Shearman, senior
C
Volume 88, Number 8
Samford University Birmingham. Ala. 35229
October 29. 2003
haunted?
By Kate McCormick
He creeps up and down Ihe dark halls of
ihe Wright Center late at night. An en¬
counter with him will leave the hair on
your arms as stiff as straight pins and your
heart pounding like a bass drum.
His name is Cleophus and he haunts the
Harrison Theater.
He is the spirit of a worker who fell
down the elevator shaft of the concert hall
lobby during the construction of the build¬
ing in 1975.
Theatre professor Eric Olson has be¬
come familiar with the tale of the ghost
throughout his years at Samford. ''I've
never seen Cleophus. but strange things
happen when I'm here late at night." he
said.
Olson said that his students have
claimed to sense his presence surround
them. At times, the lights flicker on and
off. Cleophus has been known to tamper
with the doors in Harrison, locking class¬
rooms and opening closets.
Of all his mischievousness, the most
frightening trick he plays happens on the
stage, as if he was Ihe star of his own
show.
The gridlock, located above the stage,
serves as a playground for Cleophus every
now and then.
"The pipes and batons have been known
to just start swinging back and forth on
their own." Olson said.
Senior theater minor Laura Brost had a
run-in with Cleophus while working in
Harrison late one night.
"We thought we saw someone or some¬
thing walking along the gridlock. It
freaked us out." Brost said. "He's supposed
to be a friendly ghost, but I wasn't going to
hang around to find out."
It's not surprising that Harrison has its
own immortal spirit dwelling inside. The¬
aters such as Theatre Royal Drury Lane in
London and The Beacon Theatre in New
York are also notorious for having ghosts
in them. Some skeptics brush off the idea
of a ghost in Samford's theater. "There
could be lots of logical explanations." Ol¬
son said. "But it's fun to think that we
have our very own ghost."
Ikmccorm @ samford. edu
Adrian (left). 4, and Finn Steward, 5, trick-or-treat as monsters at last year's festival. Adrian and Finn are the sons of English professor
Julie Steward. Faculty are encouraged to bring their children to Pittman hall for a night of candy and games.
Pittman hall will be filled with trick-or-
treating and costumes this Thursday
during the 2nd annual Fall Festival.
Fall Festival
faculty, staff
Annual event promotes
better relationships between
students and faculty outside
the classroom
By Sarah Davis
Samford’s second annual Residence Life
Halloween Fall Festival will take place to¬
morrow evening in Pittman Hall.
The festival is an event for Samford's
faculty and staff and their children. The
evening will be filled with trick-or-treating,
games, contests, candy and fun for faculty
and their children to enjoy.
Samford's Residence Life staff, mainly
those in Central Campus, saw a need for
more student/teacher interaction and came
returns for
and kids
up with the carnival as a solution.
"A big thing that we want to do with this
is have an opportunity for students to see
their faculty and staff outside of the class¬
room setting," Central Campus Residence
Life Educator Chuck Stokes said. "We
know that’s very important to students."
Samford R.A.’s will do the behind-the-
scenes work to make the event happen, and
residents in Pittman Hall will open their
doors to trick-or-treaters. The R.A.'s from
other freshman dormitories and other vol¬
unteers from their halls will dress up and
help out with carnival games for the chil¬
dren to enjoy.
After trick-or-treating, there will be a
moonwalk. along with cotton candy and
popcorn provided outside of Pittman.
Stokes said that they had a great re-
Please see FESTIVAL, pg. 2
Campolo addresses urban ministries
By Brandon Gresham
As Samford students go about their daily activi¬
ties on campus, many do not have time to think
about much else than homework, time commitments
and friends.
In order to combat this lack of outward thinking,
the Samford Student Ministries office is providing
students with a look outside the bubble with Urban
Missions Emphasis Week.
Headlining the Urban Emphasis program is
Founder and President of Mission Year Bart Campo¬
lo.
Working with Student Ministries, Campolo is ad¬
dressing the need for more outreach ministries to ur¬
ban communities.
Director of Student Ministries April Robinson has
no doubt that Campolo is the man for the job.
"Bart Campolo has a tremendous commitment to
urban ministry," Robinson said. "It made sense to
have him speak because his life is shaped by a love
for the city."
The program began yesterday with a speech by
Campolo during convocation. The speech was titled
"The Urban Crisis" and gave students an overview
of the urban ministry problem.
"In comparing Samford's Christian Emphasis
week to Urban." Robinson said, "Urban emphasis is
external to those around us while Christian emphasis
week is more internally focused."
A round table discussion was also held yesterday
with a panel of Birmingham city leaders including
Police Chief Annetta Nunn, Family Court referee
Andra Sparks and a number of other individuals in¬
volved in the urban crisis as Campolo defines it.
Campolo's speech series continues today and will
conclude tomorrow afternoon.
Students will then be given a chance to act out
what they've learned through the many service proj¬
ects that Samford offers. Whether it’s Family Court
tonight, or Ville Crew on Saturday, students should
have no problem doing their part to address the ur¬
ban crisis.
Today's 9: 15 classes have been cancelled to allow
students the chance to hear Campolo speak.
For more information on Urban Emphasis week
contact Student Ministries at 726-2927 or go online
to www.missionyear.com. _ _
bdg resha @ samford. edu
Urban Missions Emphasis Week
Wednesday, October 29
9:15 - Burt Compolo, ‘The Urban Church"
Reid Chapei
4:00 - Panel of Birmingham pastors. Brock Forum
6:00 - Family Court (meet outside Campus Safety)
Thursday, October 30
10:00 - Bart Campolo, ‘The Urban Call,” Reid Chapel
1 1 :00 - 2:00 - Ministry Fair in Ben Brown Plaza
3:00 - 5:00 - Bus tour of Birmingham with Betty
Brock;
Center for Urban Affairs, UAB
Saturday, November 1
9:00 - Ville Crew (meet in Talbird Circle)
Samford University Library
Photo Courtesy of Ri sidi nc i Lift.
