Harper opens new semester with 'master of bizarre'

Brian Brushwood, a fire-eating, spiky-haired master of the bizarre, will perform various tricks to welcome students to fall semester at Harper College at noon Wednesday, Aug. 24, in the Quad area in the center of the Palatine campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road.

Brushwood, who last appeared at Harper in 2009, is the highlight of Welcome Week activities Monday through Thursday, Aug. 22-25. Known for his high energy, offbeat performances, Brushwood will escape from a straitjacket, break a cinder block over his head and eat fire, albeit with a fire extinguisher nearby. The trickster tried out some new feats on his Harper audience last time, like having someone eat a playing card and then extracting an intact card.He has some new tricks up his sleeve this time, too. Brushwood's #8220;Scam School#8221; Internet TV show was named the top podcast of 2008 by iTunes. #8220;I focus on quick magic tricks to teach people so they can impress other people at social gatherings,#8221; he said.Other Welcome Week activities include:#376; Information tables around campus from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. in Buildings L, J and Avanté Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 22-23; and 5:30-6:45 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 23-24, in Buildings L and Avanté. #376; Harper Hawk pep rally and free ice cream social, noon Thursday, Aug. 25, in the Quad area between Buildings L and D. Free pool is available 1-3 p.m. in the Third Floor Lounge, Building A, Student Center. All of the events are free; outdoor events will be moved to the Student Center Lounge, Building A, in case of inclement weather. Call the Harper College Student Activities Office at (847) 925-6242.