Pointlife
Community turns out for Trivia Unplugged
The Pointer
kshan945@uwsp.edu
Trivia is known throughout the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point campus as a pivotal moment in student activities and experience. The countless hours of staying awake in the wee hours of the night to answer questions. Attaining victory is worth it in the end.
It is no wonder that trivia has become a word synonymous with what is known as the “World’s Largest Trivia Contest.” That trivia contest begins in April of each year, but 90FM teamed up with Arts Alliance of Portage County to host a new type of trivia contest. Trivia Unplugged definitely received a spark from the crowd this past weekend, as teams crammed together to win the title of Trivia Unplugged champions.
Hosted at Ramada Inn in Stevens Point, WI, approximately 400 people in the 90FM listening area and others from as far away as Boston, Mass., joined together to battle in a game of wits. Though this type of event is entertaining, it was also used as a fundraiser for the Arts Alliance of Portage County (AAPC). Arts Alliance is an art advocate that backs certain artistic endeavors throughout the area.
“We advocate for things like public art,” said Otis McLennon, the executive director of AAPC. “Most recently we have been involved in the establishment of the Stevens Point Sculpture Park which is scheduled to open in June of 2010.”
Trivia Unplugged was held very much like the trivia contest that 90FM hosts in the spring. McLennon states that each team had the same rules to follow. “No research materials, either analog or digital are allowed in the competition room. No cell phones, no computers, no books, no magazines, no nothin’. The answers to the questions have to come from your head. You either know it or you don’t.”
Scott Clark, the 90FM station manager, recalls how 90FM and AAPC came together.
“The Arts Alliance of Portage County came up with the idea and asked if they could do this as a fundraiser. We said yes as long as Jim ‘The Oz’ Oliva could write and read the questions during the event,” said Clark.
Jim Oliva, or “Oz” as he is most commonly referred to, along with John Eckendorf write the questions for the annual “World’s Largest Trivia Contest” in April. They also reprised their role as “trivia masters” for Trivia Unplugged as they created questions similar to the 90FM trivia contest questions.
“This competition is the ‘Cadillac’ Trivia competition,” said David Stenklyft, a member of the Flying Zupan Brothers, who enter all the other major trivia contests in the state. “I was surprised at how hard the questions were and even more surprised at how good the teams were. These are all very good teams.”
This fundraising event flickered in the eyes of many teams throughout the day, hoping to receive the trophy as a prize. Though it seemed like a win for the top teams, it was definitely a win for the arts. More information about the Art’s Alliance of Portage County can be found at http://www.artsportagecounty.org.
