MP3 for all

 At precisely 12:30 p.m. Thursday, dressed in blue as per instructions, I pressed the play button on my iPod and began the MP3 Experiment.

After a few moments of snazzy music, my fellow participants and I were introduced to our sonorous, omnipotent narrator, Steve.

Steve invited us to participate in activities that included coordinated jumping, following confused professors and hugging animals. My own efforts to hug a squirrel proved to be surprisingly injurious on the muddy quad.

For the next half hour my actions were part of a coordinated but silent mob. Confused passers-by were accosted with dozens of unexplained thumbs-up and high-fives, which many people actually returned.

After synchronized stretching and dancing, we engaged in a number of fun games including human dart board, square dance and lying on the cold, sodden earth pretending to nap.

Some time between the thumb wrestling and disguising myself with a finger mustache, I realized I had finally made it as a serious investigative journalist.

The experiment was not all fun and merrymaking. Eventually tensions between the teams reached a breaking point. At Steve’s command, an epic battle erupted between the blue/green confederacy and the red/yellow axis.

My own participation in the conflict was complicated first by my stance as a pacifist and second by the fact that the waist-button on my jeans popped off during the square dance.

I had neglected to wear a belt, and my pants began their beleaguered struggle for freedom.

I bravely charged into battle alongside my fellow blues with one hand brandishing a balloon weapon and the other restraining my jeans.

After just minutes, the battle was over. I then died in a grandiose manner, ending my Experiment experience.

Having completed nearly an hour of ridiculous activities with my peers, I felt a sense of community as we all joined arms and sang the UNC fight song.



Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.