Eminem makes Union College debut
Meet Eminem the hedgehog on Monday, February 29 from 5:30-7:00 pm in the McClelland art gallery.
On February 29, between 5:30 and 7:00 pm, Union students will have the chance to meet a new soon-to-be famous Instagram celebrity, Eminem the hedgehog.
In 2014, senior communications major Courtney Krueger brought home her new prickly child, an albino African pygmy hedgehog named Eminem. This little critter snuggled his way into her heart, helping to inspire her upcoming exhibit in McClelland Art Gallery, something she decided to do for fun.
“When I brought Eminem home, he’d never before been outside. The first time he experienced the outdoors was here on campus, and he freaked out,” said Krueger. “He couldn’t understand what dirt was; he kept thinking it was cat food.”
This experience was her main inspiration for the woodland-themed exhibit.
“There’s going to be giant flowers and clouds. I want everyone who comes in to feel like Eminem did when he first encountered outside,” Krueger told me eagerly.
Along with an outdoorsy feel, there will be woodland-themed snacks, a gallery of Eminem pictures to enjoy, and a photo opportunity with the ‘hog of the hour.’ This interactive display will take place in the hope of educating more people about hedgehogs and what it requires to be a responsible and loving owner.
“I want people to learn more about hedgehogs, and be more aware about novelty animals and the commitment it takes to care for them,” said Krueger.
Often seen as novelty pets, many people don’t know what goes into taking care of a hedgehog, or understand the financial responsibilities that can include vet bills costing hundreds of dollars.
Eminem will be on campus on Monday, February 29 from 5:30-7:00 pm in the McClelland art gallery. Stop by and learn more about hedgehogs as pets, or just swing by and say hello.
Graci Escobar is a junior English major with an emphasis on speaking and writing. She loves cats, napping, reading, cuddling cats, browsing independently unpublished stories, binge-watching Netflix, and petting cats. Born and raised here in Lincoln, Graci would love to see the ocean more than seven times and hopes to one day hug every cat in the world.