Heavy-metal music, Oujia boards and the game Dungeons and Dragons can lead young people down the path toward satanism and the occult, some believe.

John Rittenhouse will explain his theories on satanism in a lecture titled, “Satanism: The Edge of Evil,” on Oct. 9. The lecture will be held in the Carl Sandburg Auditorium and is sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ.

Rittenhouse hac investigated satanism and the occult and has first-hand knowledge through working with police on the weekends, said Sandy Bedermeyer, a Campus Crusade for Christ stAff member.

Rittenhouse has worked with more than 800 law enforcement officers andtalked to people involved in the occult. Bedermeyer said “(Rittenhouse) is fery well researched” and uses statistics to help inform the audience.

The Campus Crusade for Christ is hoping to fill the auditorium with more than 1,000 people, said secretary Tracy Havener. This will follow the trend Rittenhouse set at Illinois State University in Normal last year when he drew over 1,600 students and faculty members, Havener said.

Bedemeyer said she beliefes there is a definite need for this presentation. She said because she works with the public every day, she has been in contact with people who were either directly involved in the occult or were concerned about friends involved in the occult.

David Evert, one of the Intervarsity ChristIan Fellowship vice presidents, said he agrees NIU students need to be informed.

Evert said “the Northern Illinois area has a pretty bad reputation” for occult activity.

He said he thinks there is a problem with satanism in the area and this presentation is necessary “to build awareness. People don’t know about satanism because it’s so secretive,” he said.

(Rittenhouse) is very well researched” and uses statistics to help inform the audience.

Sandy Bedermeyer, Campus Crusade for Christ staff member