Students spread 'guerrilla' comedy around campus

It's been a typical fall semester on campus - a warm spell, a cold spell, tuition talks, basketball ticket distributions and some oversized furry creatures frolicking through the quads.

The gorilla, mouse, rabbit, chicken and armadillo that dotted UNC's landscape last week were part of the Carolina Union Activities Board Comedy Committee's one-week "guerrilla performance comedy."

Titled "Animals at Play," the project was designed to do nothing other than make people laugh.

"Despite popular belief, it's not a frat ritual," said junior Andrew Westin, a member of the committee who wore each animal costume for a combined total of about 20 hours.

Jonathan Benson, president of the CUAB committee, came up with the idea for "Animals at Play" last year after seeing the mascot, Ramses, wander into Davis Library and pester people who were studying. Benson said he initially wanted to get clown suits but decided that "they freak a lot of people out."

The committee settled on the animal idea, and rented costumes were shipped from the Colorado company Magic Makers Costumes. Benson posted a sign-up sheet for committee members to commit to time slots for the animal of their choice.

"The testimony from the people on the board is that it's a life-changing experience," Benson said.

It was for Westin, who attended his tennis class as a gorilla, and said it didn't negatively affect his game. "I won one or two sets."

Still in gorilla garb, Westin was stopped by a security guard in Lenoir Dining Hall for stealing bananas.

As a chicken at the Top of Lenoir, he fled in fear when a worker at the grill informed him that she would "fry him up." Later, as the bunny, he was escorted out of the Student Recreation Center when he tried to join a step class.

"It's wonderful. Everybody lights up - you get a reaction from everyone," Westin said.

Sophomore Bryan Corey agreed. "The animal energy just builds," he said.

On Thursday, he was the armadillo for two hours, during which time he was photographed at Sutton's Drug Store and was hugged by hordes of children on Franklin Street.

Later, Corey joined a UNC tour group and raised his hand as if he had a question, though the general rule was to keep mum while in costume.

"I tried to hug just about everybody I saw," Corey said. "I followed people and curled up in a ball on the sidewalk. I was laughing inside the suit the whole time."

Corey said the only downside to being an armadillo is the lack of air inside the suit and the difficulty writing.

"That whole not having five fingers thing is difficult."

Claire Anderson, president of CUAB, practiced Tai Chi in the rock garden as the armadillo.

"At this super-stressful time of the semester, it lightens the mood," she said. "I really hope we do it again."

She said that next time, she would like to see more animals, including a cow, an alligator and a shark.

Benson said the committee is planning to bring the animals back at least a few times a year, and a festival is in the works for the spring, similar to UNC's 2003 Heelarious Comedy Festival where comedian Lewis Black performed.

"We need to start a plush revolution," Corey said.

Westin agreed. "The next time you're out there and you see a giant animal, you can laugh, but don't forget to salute ... to the animal in all of us."

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