Centralhallapalooza to feature elephant

By: Kirsten Adams

Posted: 4/23/09

Centralhallapalooza, hosted by the Student Activities Board and boasting live bands, a beer tent and a moon bounce, will also feature free elephant rides from 7-11 p.m. Saturday.

Rebekah Dell, Director of Student Activities, said SAB officers began looking into bringing an elephant to Centralhallapalooza after a student requested one at their meetings.

Eventually, SAB found one through the Funny Business Agency of Ada, Mich. The board rented the elephant as part of a deal with the moon bounce, inflatable obstacle course and high jump, and Dell said the entire package cost around $4,000 including insurance.

"I was shocked at how simple the whole process was," Dell said.

The elephant, whose name is Laura, starred in the 1995 movie "Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls," Dell said.

"I've heard it can maybe even throw a baseball," she said.

Freshman Lena Pantely said she thought the elephant was a joke when she first heard about it.

"I think it's exciting that we can do something even a big university hasn't done," Pantely said. "With the economic downturn, only in Hillsdale would we still get an elephant."