Students, alumni run wild at Mardi Gras

By BEN MUTZABAUGH
Collegian Staff Writer

NEW ORLEANS -- As a longtime manager of New Orleans' Bourbon Pub, Tex Samuel has seen his share of odd experiences during Mardi Gras.

"I think the oddest thing that I've ever seen was the year someone stole a urinal," Samuel said. "What's more amazing is that no one saw anyone walk out with it. You would think it's something that somebody would notice!"

Standard fare for Mardi Gras? Not quite, but the pre-lenten festival has gained a reputation in which "anything goes." But as its popularity increases, the amount of notoriety that Mardi Gras generates also increases.

As more and more college students put Mardi Gras on their party circuit, some area merchants say the festivities may be getting out of hand.

"They don't know anything about Mardi Gras tradition," said Ronald Garland, owner of the Mardi Gras Center, a shop that sells Mardi Gras paraphernalia. "It's just like spring break for (students). They come here to raise hell and do things they wouldn't do at home."

Mardi Gras, Latin for "Fat Tuesday," occurs on the Tuesday before lent begins and was originally a self-indulgent festival that served as a precursor to the sacrifices called for during the lenten season.

Present-day Mardi Gras, however, is marked by parades, throngs of thrill-seeking crowds and a frenzied sexual atmosphere. It is an annual celebration that takes place in the steamy French Quarter here, perhaps best-known for its night life.

John Delavan, a Penn State alumnus and Mardi Gras regular, agreed that the event has gotten sleazier since he first started attending eight years ago. He attributes much of this year's debauchery to the unusually warm Mardi Gras weather this season, which has featured mostly sunny skies with daytime

highs reaching into the mid-'70s.

"This year the decadence level is very high," Delavan said. "I think the warm weather makes people do things they wouldn't ordinarily do. It's much more comfortable if you want to take your clothes off."

Mardi Gras is dominated by "beads," fancy pearl-like necklaces that are its currency. Beads are exchanged for a simple kiss or, for the more daring, the exposing of body parts -- breasts for women and below the waist for men.

In an effort to tone down the lewdness, the Bourbon Street Merchants Association has posted fliers throughout the Quarter stating that "nudity below the waist, public sex acts, grabbing or groping people or public urination" will not be tolerated.

But the warning has not proved effective.

"I've seen an unusually high number of body parts this year," said Delavan, now of Chicago. "The warnings also haven't seemed to diminish the acts of public sex."

While most agree that Mardi Gras would likely receive an X-rating, some argue that today's Mardi Gras is no raunchier than those in the past.

"It's the same people saying that it is out of control who did the same stuff years ago," said Kevin Jarrell, 28, a New Orleans resident. "They did the same thing when they were 20, and now they're older and they don't like it anymore."

Jarrell was also quick to point out that those same French Quarter merchants profit immensely from Mardi Gras and its related drunken revelry.

"The same people who own the bars that make over one million dollars each Mardi Gras are the ones who are complaining," he said. "They need to decide if they want to bitch or if they want to take their money to the bank."

Decency issues aside, most agree that Mardi Gras is nothing short of a blast, including many other Penn State students and alumni who made the trip.

"I love coming to Mardi Gras because the amount of fun is indescribable," said Ricardo Zapata, 24, an alumnus who now resides in Philadelphia. "It's like you're in a different world. You just can't describe it to someone who's never been here before."

Mark Funkhouser (senior-speech communications) said Mardi Gras has become one of his favorite excursions.

"It would take extreme circumstances for me to miss Mardi Gras," Funkhouser said. "The level of festivities here is something that's unparalleled anywhere else. I can't think of anyplace else where I've had more fun."