Party Police

Jarrod Thuener is otherwise known as "Captain Artie" to friends such as Scott Freedman. \n"It differentiates him much like his mustache," Freedman says about Thuener's nickname. "It's more enjoyable."\nBut what Thuener is best known for is a work van he received from his father; a boxy, white Ford E150, which he and his friends converted into what they call the "The Fun Vehicle," "Fun Police Van" or for short, "The FUV."\nThe FUV became what it is today one October afternoon in 2005 after a late night of partying. Thuener received a phone call from his friends who told him to get outside and find his van. \n"I saw this red mist coming from the front of the van, and saw that the guys had painted Hoosiers on the front of the van," Thuener says.\nAccording to Freedman, Thuener immediately took over the creative aspects of the FUV and became the "painting manager." The guys hit up Wal-Mart for $1 cans of spray paint to finish the job. \nThe van is now adorned with catchy phrases, that took much consideration and deliberation by the decorating team. "The General" is painted at the top of the van as a tribute to former IU basketball coach Bobby Knight, who "we frequently wish was back," Thuener says. \n"Caution: This Vehicle Makes Frequent Stops for Fun" and "Fun Police" are other phrases that help beautify the FUV. \n"The van is like the fashion police," Freedman says. "The police harped on people a lot when we were freshman. We felt it was our obligation to form an inverse not to discourage fun but to encourage it." \n"Safely," Thuener adds.\nWhile the vehicle is currently in its off-season, due to the city's current weather conditions, it sits along the streets of Bloomington waiting for the "fun months, spring and summer," Freedman says.\nThe FUV is used in the off-season to pick people up from class. But when it's nice out, this van is a definite tailgate icon. Couches, a TV and carpet can be found in the FUV at IU football games. But right now, the back of the van is used as an extra storage closet. \n"Basically, it's for any crap we don't want inside of our houses," Freedman says.\nIt's up to the driver who gets to ride shot-gun, but these guys can be seen cruising around Bloomington and Kirkwood Avenue in the FUV bumping to an array of classic music jams such as "London Bridges Falling Down," "Kinck-Knack Patty-Wack" and "When the Saints Go Marching In."\nThe songs are heard over the "multi-use fun device" sound system they installed. This device includes a bullhorn which emits three primary purposes: songs, a PA system and a variety of sirens "which usually frighten people." Comments frequently heard over the PA include: "Bundle up it's cold outside" or "Walk faster, we're trying to move."\n"The first day we used the van after putting in the multi-use system we were driving around campus," Thuener says. "Seeing people's eyes light up -- at that point we knew we were there. We had served out purpose with the FUV"