Landsberg ticket takes the pudding plunge

As many took their studying, lunch and naps onto the sunny HUB lawn, two students carried a rolled-up piece of plastic and four gallons of pudding to the northwestern side of the lawn yesterday.

"Notice the four flavors to show our concerns about diversity," said Michael Landsberg, Undergraduate Student Government presidential candidate, as he contemplated whether he had brought enough pudding.

His running mate Brent Barbe assured him that the slide would still work.

"It'll be slippy. It'll be slidey. It'll work," Barbe said.

The presidential ticket, clad in shorts, took turns sliding down the plastic into the vanilla, chocolate, butterscotch and tapioca mixture.

"The answer is it doesn't taste that bad," Landsberg called to the crowd.

A small but appreciative crowd gathered to watch the increasingly messy pair. Joe Fire (sophomore-mechanical engineering), Brad Piergrossi (junior-psychology) and Amy Grommes (freshman-architectural engineering) stood at a safe distance away and discussed the campaign with Landsberg and Barbe.

They debated whether the pair was what USG needed, wondered why Barbe was no longer blue and asked Landsberg what his stand on the issues is.

Landsberg informed them his campaign was focusing on issues he considers feasible, such as two-ply toilet paper.

"We don't promise much but we don't promise anything we don't deliver," Landsberg said. "We did promise a pudding slip-n-slide at the debate and here it is."

Both Jaime Desmond and David Lubkemann, USG presidential candidates, watched as the two slid, flopped and surfed for about 40 minutes. However, both presidential candidates and their well-dressed running mates declined an offer to try the slide themselves.

Lubkemann had two classes that afternoon, but said he liked the idea.

"Anyone with two nipple rings sliding down pudding has something to say," Lubkemann said, referring to Barbe.

Desmond, considered it briefly but was more concerned with tasting the pudding -- which she did from the almost-empty cans holding down the plastic.

"This is quality pudding," she said. "Where do you get pudding like this?"

Wesley Bowser decided sleep was more important for at least one day of the campaign, but he thinks that everyone should participate in a pudding slip-n-slide.

Jason Covener said he had other things to do and did not see the point of the event as a campaign technique, instead of discussing the issues.

Thane Fake said he had every intention of going but he needed to spend the time studying because of the amount of time campaigning has taken away from his classes. He added he did not have any clothes that would be appropriate for sliding.

Darin Loccarini was speaking in front of the Willard Building and preparing for class at noon, but said he is happy they got such good weather for their event.

Blaine Rummel had class during the slide but said he wishes he could have made it because he thinks it was an innovative and fun idea.

Hank Saur was soliciting signatures for the Penn State American Civil Liberties Union 'Get Loud' campaign protesting State College Borough Council's proposed ordinances at the time of the slide.