'Survivor' to challenge students

Do you have what it takes to be the last man standing? Tonight's Survivor Challenge will let you find out. \nAbout 50 members of fraternities, sororities, various student groups and randomly selected audience members will take part in the event. Based on the reality show "Survivor" the competition will begin at 8 p.m. in the Alumni Hall of the Indiana Memorial Union. Campus Crusade for Christ sponsors the event, but it is not exclusive to Christians, organizers said.\nThis competition is not entirely based on "Survivor," but will be a combination of "Survivor" and "Fear Factor." The parties involved have no knowledge of what the challenges consist of, which is the surprise element of the event. The competition will be followed by a talk by Mike Skupin, a former competitor on "Survivor: The Australian Outback."\n"There will be five challenges," said Ed Huff, a Campus Crusade staff member. "The contestants don't know what the challenges will be."\nSkupin said the final challenge will be the most exciting. "Survivor," the TV show, features 16 contestants left in a remote location. The contestants have to use their surroundings as resources to survive. Tribes vote to kick their opposition off of the show until one is left to collect the $1million prize. \nCampus Crusade members are excited to have Skupin speak. IU senior Angie Vetter was partially responsible for bringing Skupin to campus.\n"I lead the outreach team (at Campus Crusade)," she said. "The team was brainstorming a speaker to bring in and someone suggested Mike. I did some research and called him up and talked to him. He was interested in coming to IU."\nAfter the challenge, Skupin will speak about his experiences in the Australian Outback. He was on his way to the winner's circle when he passed out into a fire and received severe burns on his hands. After ten days with bandages on his hands, they were removed, and his hands were healed. The head surgeon said it was a medical impossibility.\nSkupin's style of speaking is different than many speakers that come to IU, Vetter said.\n"We had never had a really interactive speaker," she said. "He is really involved in wanting to help students."\nJeff Chudy, campus director of CCC, said the event should reach all students.\n"Mike speaks to all audiences," he said. "His talks are filled with adventure…it's adventurous and inspirational."\nHuff also commented and said even though Campus Crusade for Christ is a Christian organization, he hopes for an audience of all faiths.\n"This is not an event (exclusively) for Christians. It's pretty much just a testimony of how he got through ('Survivor')," Huff said. "We want people of all faith groups. If it touches them, then great."\n-- Contact staff writer Jenny Kobiela at jkobiela@indiana.edu.