Campbell students undecided about living in car

Buies Creek–Encased in a blue sleeping bag, Campbell University senior Bryan Johnson tries to get comfortable stretching out between the seats of a Ford Taurus that is parked in front of Marshbanks Dining Hall. Junior Doug Locascio sits behind the wheel, clutching a pink and white stuffed dog named “Ziggy.” Wrapped in a blanket in the back seat, sophomore Tyler Merry makes a feeble attempt at studying.It is Thursday, March 27, and the temperature is a balmy 65 degrees, but it hasn’t always been that mild since the three began living in the car on Monday. Except for three bathroom breaks a day, a designated 30-minute shower time and required classes, the competitors cannot leave their cars. Directly beside them, freshman Emily Blackman, freshman Dominica Jones and sophomore Caitlyn Rouse also share a Ford Taurus, making a total of six out of nine students remaining to compete in the campus reality game “Campbell Survivor.” The game is one of numerous activities scheduled during Spring Fling Week, March 24-28. A cash prize of $750 will be presented to the winner. Not only must the students live in the cars, one male and one female student are eliminated each night for failing to complete a surprise “challenge,” explained Emily Blackman, a business major from Dunn, N.C. Wednesday night it was diving for poker chips in a bowl of ice cream and sprinting across the Academic Circle to deposit the chips, hands tied behind their backs. Other challenges have included competing in a game of Jeopardy and trying to collect the most cigarette butts on campus.”We don’t know what challenge to expect next,” said Blackman “We have to pay attention to the clues we’re given each day. Once you get past the first three days, you get used to living in the car. It’s a really cool experiment,” she said.”It’s made me appreciate my bed,” joked Locascio, a Sports Management major from Seminole, Fla. Locascio credits his girlfriend for keeping him alive with care packages from McDonalds and for loaning him “Ziggy,” his good luck charm.Tyler Merry, whose participation in the game has earned him the nickname “Trunk Boy,” said if he wins the money he would like to spend it on a $750 meal.Blackman, on the other hand, would definitely save some of the money, make contributions to her church and repay her friends. “One thing I’ve learned about this experience is you really get to know who your friends are,” she said.Domenica Jones is a pre-pharmacy major from Tavares, Fla.; Caitlyn Rouse is a Mass Communication major from Raleigh, N.C.; Tyler Merry, from Tiffin, Ohio, is majoring in religion; and Bryan Johnson, from Chester, Md., is majoring in Criminal Justice.Photo Copy: Emily Blackman, left, Brittany Sauls, Will Smith, Doug Locascio, and Danielle Robertson enjoy the warm weather Thursday, March 27. Emily and Doug are living in cars as contestants in “Campbell Survivor.” Will, Brittany and Danielle are on hand to give the competitors moral support.

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