The Clackamas print., October 26, 2016, Page 4, Image 4

Stop clowning around
WIDESPREAD EVIL CLOWN SIGHTINGS REPORTED ACROSS THE COUNTRY
BY DOUG FRY
The phrase “ clowning around’’ has a different feel in
2016. What was once a light-hearted term for jokes and
giggles has turned into an epidemic that is sweeping the
nation.
People are dressing up as clowns and harassing others
by chasing, threatening or physically attacking. It started
in South Carolina and has quickly spread. These pranks
have gone past the point of a practical joke. Many people
have started fighting back against the clowns, and it has
caused unnecessary violence throughout the nation.
Meaghan Preston, a student at Clackamas Community
College, had her own experience w ith these clown
sightings. She described her recent encounter with a
couple of local clowns.
"I left Pieology with a friend, we heard their clown horn
and scurried o ff to my car,” Preston said. “ We didn’t
know we were being followed at first, but once we got
to the light we saw that the clown was behind us. Once
we entered the freeway they tailed us and got next to
us, trying to run us off the road and other cars as well.
We didn’t pay much attention. They then exited, and we
followed to get their plates. They then ran a couple lights
and stop signs, so we lost them. We called the police and
filed a report.”
In this case, like many others, the clowns took their
joke too far.
“ I have a phobia of clowns so it truly wasn’t funny to me
at a ll,” said Preston. “ It’s one thing going to a haunted
house and expecting and wanting to be scared. But this
wasn’t my choice. I don’t think that’s fair.”
Even with what happened, Preston hasn’t completely
given up on clowns.
“ I definitely think it has given good clowns a bad name.
I mean not all clowns are b ad,” said Preston,
Professional Clown, Regina “ Cha C h a ” Wollrabe. a
student at Clackamas, has been practicing her art tor
27 years and is hoping that this hysteria will blow over.
Wollrabe suggested that there is a difference between
a clown and the imposters that put on a mask to scare
others.
Safety has become an issue not only for people on the
lookout for these imposters, but for real clowns too.
“ It makes me sad, disappointed. I’m also experiencing,
fear m yself,” said Wollrabe. “ I was encouraged not to
drive in my clown outfit as well when this hysteria came
out. They didn’t feel we were necessarily safe because
4 Clackamas Print OCTOBER 26,2016 theclackamasprintcom
people might do something. A lot of
us are taking precautions right now
and not driving in our costumes
and makeup.”
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People should not fear
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professional clowns since
they follow a code of
ethics and try to help
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people who do fear
clowns, not create more
fear.
“ Som e
p e o p le
I ’ve m et have been
chased by a clown for 1 ||
some reason. That’ s
not what real clowns
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do. T h at’ s not how
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w e’re trained. That’ s
n o t e t h i c a l,” said
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Wollrabe. “ Real clowns
are trained to make a fool
out of themselves, not out
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of the person that they’re
entertaining.” \
Wollrabe has been on a break
for the m onth o f October and
hopes she can resume her profession
when things calm down and become safer.
Tom Moore, the manager of Spirit Halloween,
had another view to offer. Being on the business side
of costumes makes the clown scenario a little different.
Like many others, Moore has not paid much attention
to the clown sightings and cares little whether someone
dresses up as a clown or a turkey. To him, it’s just a choice
people make.
“ That’ s what we’ve sold out first, all the clown stu ff,”
said Moore. “ Except for h im ,” (pointing at a broken
clown prop). “ It’s all gone basically. It’s definitely helped
sales and we probably won’t be getting any more clown
paraphernalia.”
Being more observant this year can help keep people
safe. Not all clowns are dangerous. Those who use
clowning as an art want people to know that they
shouldnTt fear all clowns. Any costume can be
scary, but the holiday is all in good fun.