September 24, 2007
Sixteen to compete for title of 'Ultimate Saluki'
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Who has the mettle to be the top Dawg? Who will be the Southern Illinois University Carbondale 2007 Ultimate Saluki?
Sixteen SIUC students will be "stranded," primarily on the Campus Lake Beach, for 52 hours, from 3 p.m. Sept. 28 until 7 p.m. Sept. 30. They'll divide into two teams with each team having just two tents, three boxes of Saltine crackers and a five-gallon jug of water to help them survive as they compete in "Survivor" style challenges. The challenges and tribal councils are open to the public.
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Media Advisory
Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to cover any of the various challenges or tribal councils, culminating with the final tribal council featuring Mike Skupin, of television's "Survivor- Australia," at 7 p.m., Sept. 30, at the Student Center Auditorium. The complete schedule of challenges, all entertaining and photogenic, along with the "tribal council" meeting schedule are included in this release.
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"It's going to be an intense, three-day experience culminating in the inspirational final 'Tribal Council' presented by Mike Skupin that you won't want to miss," said Lynne Thompson Cundiff, fitness coordinator for Recreational Sports and Services at the SIUC Student Recreation Center.
"This event ran for the first time last year and proved to be a great opportunity for the students to get involved in a campus program, be with other students and create an experience they'll remember their entire college career and beyond," said Sally J. Wright, assistant director of Recreational Sports and Services.
During the weekend, contestants will band together and carve out an existence on the beach. Every few hours, they'll gather for a team challenge where they can earn rewards to enhance their sparse environment. Exact details of the challenges are a closely guarded secret prior to the competition, but organizers promise excitement in the battles of skill, brainpower and athleticism.
Just as in the television version of the game, afterward, the Tribal Council will convene and secret tribal member votes will trim the contestant field.
The schedule of team and individual challenges and Tribal Councils includes:
Friday, Sept. 28
• 5 p.m.- Team Challenge at Campus Beach; in the even of rain, this will take place in the Student Recreation Center.
• 6:45 p.m.- Tribal Council at shelter near Campus Beach.
• 8:15 p.m.- Team Challenge at Greek Island (Greek Row on SIUC campus), rain location Student Recreation Center.
• 9:45 p.m.- Tribal Council at shelter near Campus Beach.
• 11:30 p.m.- Team Challenge at Campus Lake Boat Dock, rain location Student Recreation Center.
Saturday, Sept. 29
• 1 a.m.- Tribal Council at shelter near Campus Beach.
• 7:30 a.m.- Team Challenge at Touch of Nature Environmental Center, located about seven miles south of Carbondale on Giant City Road, rain location Student Recreation Center pool.
• 9:30 a.m.- Tribal Council at Touch of Nature.
• 11 a.m.- Team Challenge at Touch of Nature.
• 12:30 p.m.- Tribal Council at Touch of Nature.
• 2 p.m.- Team Challenge at Touch of Nature.
• 2:45 p.m.- Tribal Council at Touch of Nature.
• 4:30-7:30 p.m.- Team Challenge at Touch of Nature.
• 8 p.m.- Tribal Council at Touch of Nature.
• 10:30 p.m.- Individual Challenge at Campus Beach, rain location Campus Lake Boat Dock.
• 11:30 p.m.- Tribal Council at shelter near Campus Beach.
Sunday, Sept. 30
• 6 a.m.- Individual Challenge at Campus Lake Boat Dock.
• 7 a.m.- Tribal Council at shelter near Campus Beach.
• 8:30 a.m.- Individual Challenge at Campus Beach, rain location Student Recreation Center track.
• 10 a.m.- Tribal Council at shelter near Campus Beach.
• 11 a.m.- Individual Challenge at Campus Lake Boat Dock, rain location Student Recreation Center Pool.
• 1 p.m. Tribal Council at shelter near Campus Beach.
• 3 p.m.- Individual challenge at Campus Beach.
• 4:4 5 p.m. Tribal Council at shelter near Campus Beach, narrowing contestant field to two people.
• 7 p.m.- Final Tribal Council meeting and vote to choose the Ultimate Saluki Champion. Hosted by Mike Skupin at the Student Center Auditorium.
The final nine contestants will cast their votes at the final tribal council to determine the winner of a host of prizes, including a $500 book scholarship and two tickets and hotel accommodations for the Missouri Valley Conference basketball tournament in St. Louis. Throughout the weekend, participants will also be winning prizes galore, including Amtrak roundtrip Chicago tickets, an MP3 player, a Kickbike and numerous other gift cards, coupons and prizes donated by local restaurants, stores and service providers.
Contestants for the crown of 2007 Ultimate Saluki, listed by hometown with year of school and major:
Illinois
• Alto Pass: Priciliano Fabian, freshman, workforce education, Spanish minor.
• Channahon: Joseph Batir, senior, geology with physics and math minors.
• Chester: Sarah Roth, freshman, cinema/photography.
• Columbia: Allie McCreary, senior, forestry, environmental studies minor.
• Crystal Lake: Josh Sheehan, junior, recreation.
• Du Quoin: Steven Willi, senior, communication design.
• Genoa: Andrew Santiago, freshman, architecture.
• Lake Villa: Kevin Hennelly, freshman, undecided.
• Lincoln: Ryan Hoyt, junior, administration of justice, psychology minor.
• Murphysboro: Justin Miller, senior, physiology.
• New Lenox: Casey Fabianski, freshman, kinesiology.
• Roscoe: James Wieman, freshman, undecided.
• Springfield: Chris Mills, junior, civil engineering, surveying minor.
• Westville: Sarah Attitus, non-declared graduate student.
• Woodstock: Elizabeth Gazdziak, freshman, aviation flight.
Tennessee
• Gallatin: Randy Campion, senior, computer and electrical engineering, math minor.