File:1987 U of Minnesota Campus Carni, Phi Sigma Kappa and Alpha Chi Omega pairing, showing band and ballyhoo.jpg

English: The fraternities and sororities on the Minnesota campus paired up to compete with each other during seven decades of Campus Carnival - or Carni, as it was affectionately known. The event grew from a penny carnival formed in 1914, and ran through 1988, with all proceeds given to charity. The event was billed as "the largest student-run fundraiser in the United States." Phi Sig and Alpha Chi won best set (design and execution) in 1987, placing second overall with high scores in Ballyhoo (dancers), Band, ticket sales and Skit. Patrons would enter to the right of this stage after listening to one of the bands for eight minutes. Inside was a 12 minute 1-act play. All the bands played at the same time, with the blaring noise echoing well outside the U of MN Fieldhouse where the event took place in mid-April every Spring.

Pictured, Jeff Wallis on keyboard, among other members of both chapters. Mike "Spike" Scheller is in the background by the "office" sign, on guitar. Other names?

The building in the mid-ground was constructed with a forced perspective, a la the iconic image in Hitchcock's Psycho. This set piece, at an oblique angle and itself standing eight feet tall, was frame built and was hoisted to mask the second level of the scaffolding that supported second tier dancer platforms and the painted backdrop. A row of smaller building facades (~Bates Motel cabins) angled off to the left, growing progressively smaller in a forced perspective of distance. Papier-mâché birds were suspended from the ceiling. The band and first tier of dancers were on a platform designed to resemble an immense film reel on its side.

To be used on the page List of fraternities and sororities at the University of Minnesota