Jon Carey
Equinox Staff
The Pumpkin Festival is more than just a rowdy college party; the symbolism behind this majestic and celebratory event creates an atmosphere unlike no other. It is up to the students of Keene State College to ensure the safety of the festival by not “losing their heads.”
“Don’t Lose Your Head at Pumpkinfest” is a campaign aimed to increase awareness during Keene’s signature event on Oct. 22, 2011, and to respect the rules and regulations.
Ruth Sterling of Sterling Design & Communications and Pumpkinfest’s new manager believes that Keene State students can literally save the festival.
“First of all, I want Keene State students and recent alumni to know that they have the opportunity to make a huge difference in the future of the Pumpkin Festival. I’ve had a chance to spend a lot of time with 18 to 25-year-olds studying the situation, and I believe the solutions boil down to some simple things,” Sterling said.
Sterling gave several key problems which led to multiple negative situations arising during last year’s festival. Her goal is to make the city attentive of these issues and find solutions to ensure the safety of both the people and the festival.
“The first problem is that the cost of city services, mostly aimed at keeping the festival safe, has skyrocketed to $106,000 for just one 24-hour period. This enormous police and emergency services staffing is required to manage misbehavior, mostly in the south and southeast parts of the city. The previous organizer, some donors, and many neighbors have given up hope that the situation can improve,” Sterling said.
The importance is respect, if students choose to invite friends who get belligerent and cause damages to the city then the festival may cease to exist. Sterling strongly suggests that students be responsible enough to know when they’ve had enough to drink and not let poorly-influenced friends ruin the festival for all in attendance.
“If you are inviting someone from off-campus or out-of-state, then invite one guest and only one guest. Research tells us that a best friend is less likely to make trouble, as opposed to friends of friends who are more prone to cause difficulties. We’re setting a goal of zero injuries and zero arrests. If everyone stops one drink short of ending in the ER or arrested, our problems are solved,” Sterling said.
Paula Raymond, the public relations coordinator for the festival, stressed that students are unaware of how severe the situation is. She wants students to become aware and help make Pumpkinfest safe for all.
“Student involvement is the most important key to the survival of the festival. If students can respect the rules and protect the festival’s integrity then it will never go away,” Raymond said.
Both Sterling and Raymond mentioned there are 42 non-profit food vendors set up for Pumpkinfest who make on average three to five thousand dollars for their organizations during the event. The festival already estimates an average of eight million dollars in state revenue as a result of food sales and hotel costs.
“Organizations such as Girl Scouts, Little League, United Way Agencies, and others, all benefit from the Pumpkin Festival. The economic and sociologic benefits created from having this event are charismatic and that’s why we need everyone’s help to ensure this festival doesn’t die out,” Sterling said.
Students voice their opinions as to whether or not they think prevention can be accomplished. Some say prevention is needed, but when you’re dealing with mass amounts of students and their friends, it’s difficult to assimilate everybody at once.
“I definitely agree that Pumpkinfest can get out of hand, especially when you have groups of people visiting who don’t even go to the school. People’s friends have no respect for the college so that gives them an excuse to drink excessively and cause chaos,” KSC senior Aislyn Vaughan said.
KSC senior Anna Peterson hopes students can be more responsible as to who they invite and how much alcohol is consumed. She also voices her acknowledgment that Pumpkinfest may not return if damages keep occurring during the festivities.
“It’s sad really; everybody loves Pumpkinfest mostly because of the parties. I don’t think many students realize how their actions can negatively affect the future of the festival. I believe students are still going to invite groups of friends, it just depends how responsible people choose to be which correlates with how much alcohol is consumed,” Peterson said.
Ruth Sterling hopes to keep gatherings indoors and limit guests to those you know and who have identification proving their legal age of 21 or older. If gatherings happen outside, Sterling said, “Act as if your grandmother were in the houses you pass and try not to wake her up or upset her. The grandmother rule can keep everyone out of trouble and keep a lot of neighbors happy. Just like every Pumpkinfest matters, people’s behaviors matter. ”
Raymond suggested to stock up on party food such as pizza, burritos, cheese and crackers, cakes, and pies and to have enough for guests throughout the party. “Parties with great menus tend to be the parties with the fewest arrests,” said Raymond.
Merchandise will also be sold on the date of Pumkinfest, which again is Oct. 22, and also on the Pumpkinfest website, www.pumpkinfest2011.org.
If you have any questions concerning the Pumpkin Festival of 2011, Ruth Sterling can be contacted by email at www.SterlingDes.com.
“I see Keene State College students as the leaders of the new Pumpkin Festival. The interns and recent graduates we have on our festival team have insight and determination. If everyone on campus wants a ‘Don’t Lose Your Head’ t-shirt, we’ll get more printed. The cost was less than $100,000 and just may save the festival,” Sterling said.
Jon Carey can be contacted at jcarey1@ksc.mailcruiser.com
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