Students get 'A' in Beetle stuffing

Bucks County Courier Times (Philadelphia, USA) - April 27, 2001

Twenty-seven students at Penn State Abington piled into a Volkswagen New Beetle and unofficially broke the world record.

It was a writhing mass of young humanity. There were elbows jutting out here and there, legs stretched long or folded tight, heads peeping out of a pile of knees and hands.

enn State Abington students get some last minute cramming instructions while attempting to break the Guiness World Record for the most people in a new model VW Beetle

As part of their pre-final exam Spring Fling on Wednesday, some Penn State Abington students set out to break the world record for the most people stuffed into a Volkswagen Beetle.

And they did it - at least unofficially. In order for the record to be official, they have to submit photos and video of the feat and paperwork to the Guinness Book of World Records. It took two attempts, but 27 young men and women crowded into the new model Beetle parked outside the gymnasium.

Until Wednesday, the world record was 25 people, a record set April 29, 2000, in Austria, said Emile Hoffman, director of business development with Guinness in New York City. The Penn State Abington students were determined to do better.

The first time, they crammed 25 people in the Bug. When they tried again, they shoved two more folks inside.

Senior Janelle Hake said, "The second time we were a lot more jammed in there," she said. "We wiggled a lot more to get closer."

Penn State Abington students cram into a new model VW Beetle.

After emerging from the near-bursting Beetle, Hake and freshman Remona Griffiths formally introduced themselves and shook hands. The two were tucked into the trunk like contortionists. "I didn't know I could do that," said Griffiths, demonstrating how she hugged her knees to leave as much room as possible for her peers.

The idea for Wednesday's stuffing stunt was inspired by a bit of Penn State history, senior class adviser Lisa Morris explained. Back in 1959, 41 male students at Abington piled into or on top of a VW Beetle. Morris said it was the national record then.

This time around, the class of 2001 decided to go for the Guinness world record, which meant they all had to be inside the car, Morris said. Participants had to be at least 5 feet tall, and all the windows and doors had to be shut for at least five seconds.

Senior class President Drew Sharkey of Glenside said he gave his spot to a shorter person for the successful second attempt.

"It was hot, and we were squooshed against everything," he said. "But it was fun. I'm glad we did it today."