On October 27th, Fresno State became the unlikely site of a CFACT Free Market Energy Campaign “Banned Product Graveyard” as CFACT collegian Kaeli McIntere teamed up with the campus Turning Point USA chapter for a Halloween-themed education event that blended humor, hands-on engagement, and a clear message: California’s regulatory overreach is out of control.
Stationed in front of the busy Kennel Library, Kaeli’s exhibit immediately drew waves of curious students and staff. Lining the table were gravestones marking the “death” of once-useful everyday items—toilet paper, plastic bags, gasoline, plastic straws, and even new gas stations and nuclear plants in parts of the state. Not one of these proposed or successful bans, Kaeli explained, has ever been voted on by the public. Yet students are expected to live with the consequences of policies enacted in the name of “climate action,” at the cost of their personal freedom and convenience.
As students approached the gravestones, Kaeli sparked dozens of conversations—including with several foreign exchange students who remarked that the heavy-handed government control they fled abroad is beginning to resemble what they now see in California. It was a powerful reminder of how bureaucratic climate mandates restrict free-market innovation and chip away at personal liberty.
But no CFACT Halloween event is complete without a bit of fun—and Fresno State delivered. After learning about the eco-left’s plans for everyday products, students lined up to “smash socialism” (pumpkins) with a baseball bat. Laughter echoed across the quad as pumpkins splattered on the tarp, strewing stringy guts, seeds, and the eco-left’s plans for California—in all directions.
To end the day in perfect alignment with CFACT’s Conserve & Preserve Campaign, Kaeli didn’t let the smashed pumpkins go to waste. She gathered up all the pumpkin guts, seeds, and husks afterward and brought them to a friend’s small farm, where the animals enjoyed a seasonal treat instead of the remains being thrown in the trash. By closing the loop, Kaeli demonstrated exactly what CFACT advocates—practical conservation rooted in personal responsibility, not government mandates.
Despite the bold messaging, the atmosphere remained overwhelmingly positive. Kaeli reported zero protesters, a welcome contrast to California’s tense campus politics, and noted that most students were genuinely eager to understand how these policies were affecting their daily lives.
“Students had a great time,” Kaeli said. “They were able to humorously learn about policies that are actually pretty serious—and dangerous to free-market principles.”
By blending festive visuals with real-world policy education—and finishing it all with responsible, sustainable action—Kaeli advanced both CFACT’s Free Market Energy and Conserve & Preserve messages. It was a beautiful autumn day spent reminding students that real environmental stewardship comes not from bans and bureaucratic overreach, but from informed citizens making thoughtful, voluntary choices that benefit both people and the planet.
