Shocked faces could be seen in every direction at Fruit Break last Wednesday following an overzealous performance by the politically charged, and self proclaimed, Reverend Tarr. The mysterious performance certainly gave the snack a curious aftertaste, but the effect that the event will have on the upcoming election remains uncertain.
Towards the second half of Fruit Break, a robed figure took to the pedestal upon which the statue of St. Paul sits. He introduced himself as “Reverend Tarr” and he delivered a politically charged sermon on the subject of the Advanced Studies Program (ASP) Presidential election. According to Ethan LaFrance, a student in Changing the World, the surprising event “caught everybody’s attention.” During his speech, the Reverend called for support of Carolyn Keyes, one of the presidential candidates.
Making announcements from his makeshift pulpit, Reverend Tarr attempted to sway voters towards voting for Keyes and away from voting for Molly Kepner, Keyes’s rival in the presidential race. In one particularly memorable segment, the Revered exorcised the influence of Kepner from one follower. Soon thereafter, he began a chant that rang “vote Carolyn Keyes,” and finished by asking his audience for an “amen. Reportedly, Reverend Tarr’s appearance was not directly linked to, or sanctioned by, Keyes and her campaign did not stage the sermon, though Keyes briefly joined Tarr by the statue. The Reverend was not asked to leave the event; the impromptu rally was completely peaceful in nature and was permitted to conclude.
Not much is known about the background of the elusive Reverend Tarr. He first emerged in the public eye during his self proclaimed “crusade” for legislation ensuring pelicans the same rights as United States citizens. The movement eventually petered out, but Reverend Tarr’s affinity for politics remains ever passionate.
“When I heard of Ms. Keyes’ entry into the 2011 ASP election, I knew it was time to step forward to show my support,” said Reverend Tarr when questioned about his motives.
Tarr claims that he was officially ordained as a reverend following an online course; however, he abandoned the traditional church service for his unorthodox routine. In an explanation of his methods, Reverend Tarr said, “there is a reason that I make a scene. I often feel that people ignore political issues because they can appear to be mundane, and so I bring them to the table in a way that adds a touch of spice to the arena.”
The candidates’ reactions to the event were mixed. Carolyn Keyes mentioned that she “appreciates the support,” but also felt that the religious aspect was “pushy.” As she is running on a platform that is moderate in terms of religious affiliation, Keyes mentioned that she wanted to avoid “brainwashing” potential supporters. Molly Kepner, who was present during the speech, stated, “Some will take [the performance] as good publicity. Some will take it as goofy.” The candidate also said that she “hopes it doesn’t hurt [Carolyn’s] campaign too much.”
As ASP election day draws nearer and nearer, there will be plenty of news to cover. Be sure to keep checking up on the Mass Media’s blog, as well as The Pelican Brief’s Facebook and Twitter profiles, in order to keep up with the latest developments.
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