Compiled by Courtney Hong
The normally uneventful trip up Seaver Drive onto campus was disrupted one afternoon a few Saturdays ago when Britney Spears, with an entourage of two SUVs, sought refuge from the paparazzi. Junior Matt Steffen, who was working the Public Safety booth at the time, was requested to let Spears, who was with her bodyguard; her mom, Lynne; her sister, Jamie Lynn; Kevin Federline, her new husband; and Federline’s daughter, onto campus while keeping the press out.
“Britney looked very aggravated about the whole situation,” Steffen said. “The problem was, the officer who was there before me left the permit lane open, and three of the paparazzi got in,” Steffen said. “One of them parked his car by Alumni Park and started running up the hill with a camera. Public dispatch actually had a car drive down the hill and chased him around.”
Ultimately, Public Safety officers caught the fugitive press, while Spears escaped to Drescher campus.
“It was like being in a movie,” Steffen said. “I’ve grown to dislike the paparazzi. They would do anything it takes to get a picture. I saw that firsthand.”
Other students, like junior Naphresha Singletary, have the luxury of more pleasant celebrity encounters. Singletary, who works at Starbucks on Cross Creek Road, was at the register a few days ago when Pierce Brosnan, of the James Bond 007 movies, walked in and ordered two drinks. Meanwhile, Singletary’s co-worker, with a newspaper in hand, took her time rattling off the various horoscope signs before getting to Singletary’s. Before her co-worker could say
“Taurus,” however, Brosnan said to Singletary, “Taurus. I could tell you were a Taurus as soon as I walked in.” “How could you tell?” asked Singletary, giving Brosnan one of his drinks. “Well, I’m a Taurus,” Brosnan said, apparently flustered. “I don’t know, electrical wiring or something.” Singletary said she could barely contain her excitement.
09-23-2004
