CLIMBERS CLEAN UP GRAFFITI; STUDENTS PRACTICE SKILLS ON PARK CLIFFS

CAPE GIRARDEAU - The recently formed Rock Climbing Club at Southeast Missouri State University seized an opportunity to practice their skills and do a service project Sunday afternoon.

Several members had noticed some graffiti inside the old quarry at the north end of Trail of Tears State Park and suggested it might be a good project for them to undertake.

After securing the approval of Park Superintendent Hershel Price, eight club members and a group of onlookers gathered at the quarry and tied off at the top of a 200-foot bluff.

They rappelled down 50 feet to use hammers, chisels, and wire brushes to clear away the spray-painted message "R.C. Loves Blue Eyes."

Club President Mike Stone said whoever put the message on the quarry wall had to rappel down the same way they did to remove it. The ironic thing, laughed Stone, is that R.C. and Blue Eyes have probably broken up and aren't dating any more.

Stone said it took most of the afternoon to get the graffiti off, which proved difficult to remove.

But overall, he felt it was a good opportunity for club members to practice their rappelling skills.

Jim Maginel, of the Cottonwood Treatment Center for adolescent youths, also went with club members because of his interest in rappelling. Maginel is hoping to include rappelling as part of his programs at Cottonwood.

Stone said the Missouri Division of Youth Services Group Home in Cape Girardeau has also expressed an interest in adding climbing to their activities.

The Rock Climbing Club is sponsored by Recreational Sports at the university, and Stone said for some members, Sunday's activity was their first experience working that high off the ground.

Several members had learned their climbing skills at the climbing wall in the Recreation Center.

Stone explained the project at Trail of Tears seemed like a natural as the club began discussing activities.

"All these guys in the club are advocates of the parks and hate to see the graffiti, and they also have a desire to do some rappelling," Stone said. "We thought the two would go hand in hand so we decided to do this project."