Last Friday, an anti-tuition hike protester wearing a pumpkin mask appeared on the Student Union balcony and addressed students gathered below.
The small crowd scattered on the ground floor of the Union was brought to attention by feedback from the protester's megaphone and one Putnam's employee who yelled, "Look at that pumpkin!"
The protester, known only as "Pumpkinhead," began a short, mumbled speech by repeatedly chanting, "I refuse to pay higher tuition."
The protest was interrupted by what sounded like a megaphone short circuit, but he managed to throw a stack of flyers over the guardrail before running through the Union's promenade exit.
The flyer read: "Join Pumpkinhead in protest of the tuition increase or submit to the state like dogs. The choice is yours. They can't tax us if they don't pay."
The flyer also announced that at 1 p.m. on Feb. 14 - Valentine's Day - a rally would be held on the ground floor of Capen Hall.
Brad Hamm, a media studies major who witnessed the event, said he was not sure what to make of Pumpkinhead's demonstration.
"What do taxes have to do with the tuition increase?" Hamm asked. "And is he trying to make some statement by pairing pumpkins with Valentine's Day?"
Some of the students disagreed with Pumpkinhead's hit-and-run approach to political activism.
"I don't see why he has to drop flyers and run away," said Alex Chapman, a senior history major. "He should come down and answer questions. If he has such a gripe with tuition, maybe Pumpkin-face (sic) should work harder in school and save some money by graduating early instead of wasting time protesting like a punk-dirty-tree-hugging-hippy."
"If he were in a business suit and stated his ideas intelligently he might get someone to listen," he added.
Erik Zogg, a communication major who lives in Hadley Village, said he saw "some guy in a pumpkin disguise" handing out flyers near his apartment last Tuesday.
Matt Lincoln, sophomore computer science major, said he would probably go to the rally on Friday because he strongly opposes a tuition hike.
"I think I'll attend; who wants to pay more tuition?" Lincoln said, adding that he wished "there were more people around when (Pumpkinhead) got up there."
Jayesh Minase, a graduate student studying mechanical engineering, agreed. "I think the Pumpkin should have stayed longer, made his ideas more clear, but I will attend his protest," Minase said. "We have to do something about this."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
