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SVSU hopes to reclaim Battle of the Valleys trophy with innovative activities
October 22, 2007 —
Elevated goals, an anticipated hot-selling t-shirt, and a host of fundraising events have many at SVSU believing they have a chance at recapturing the "Battle of the Valleys" trophy during the fifth annual competition, beginning on Sunday Oct. 3.
The battle will pit the Cardinals against the Grand Valley in a weeklong fundraising contest where the schools will compete against each other to raise money for selected causes. All of the money SVSU raises this year will be donated to the City Rescue Mission of Saginaw, an organization that aids the homeless. The trophy will be awarded at halftime of the home football game versus the Lakers to the university that has raised the most money.
After last year's heartbreaking loss to GVSU by less than $200, the Student Association seeks to prove the Cardinals' spirit is not broken by upping the ante of the previous $20,000 fundraising goal to $30,000.
A creative new design hopes to make this year's commemorative t-shirt a hot commodity. The shirts will be sold beginning the night of Sunday Oct. 28 at the kickoff bonfire, beginning at 10 p.m. on the intramural fields. Students may purchase their shirts for $10 while enjoying hot dogs and the services of a guest DJ.
Two hundred extra shirts were ordered as a result of last year's demand for the product.
"The extreme popularity of the 'Friends Don't Let Friends Go to Grand Valley' t-shirts was not calculated correctly," SA Campus Events Director Jeanna Byers said. Byers predicts thenew strategy will greatly help fundraising efforts if the trend continues.
The action continues Monday night in the campus courtyard at 10 p.m., when a car bearing GVSU graffiti is expected to receive a Cardinal-style beating. Students are encouraged to attend the hammer-induced mangling.
The Cardinal Cage will be the site of the Tuesday night event, "Cardinal Idol."
"It's similar to American Idol on TV and it's an event for SVSU students to have some fun and showcase their talents," Byers said. Prizes are to be awarded to the winners.
Local area businesses and registered student organizations took part in donating goods for Wednesday's debut of the silent auction, set to take place throughout the day in Einstein's Eatery.
Wednesday night, students will have the oppertunity to participate in Cardboard City. The event features participants constructing cardboard houses in the campus courtyard in which they are then encouraged to sleep in overnight. Cardboard may be purchased from SA, but students must bring their own duct tape.
Beginning at 5 p.m. and lasting until morning, Cardboard City is also being dubbed President's Night. According to Byers, SVSU President Eric R. Gilbertson will be making an appearance and "hanging out with whoever makes the coolest cardboard home."
A date auction followed by the SVSU premier of the fifth and most recent Harry Potter film is slated for Thursday night at 9:30 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room. The highest bidder and her date will win a seat on a front-row couch to view the Valley Nights-sponsored movie.
Dates to be auctioned off are to be determined, however Byers promises eligible Greeks and athletes will top the list. Popcorn will be available and drinks will also be sold.
Friday's festivities include the 10 a.m. faculty and staff dodgeball game in the Cardinal Gym, the 9 p.m. face-off of the SVSU club hockey team versus Eastern Kentucky University, and the high-school lock-in held at 10 p.m. in the Ryder Center.
All of the ticket sales from the hockey game will go toward Battle of the Valleys, as will the proceeds from the lock-in. Student volunteers are welcome to attend the lock-in to oversee sports tournaments, videogames, and live performances for high-school students.
Finally, tailgating commences at 10 a.m. on the morning of the gridiron showdown in E-Lot. SA will be providing food, and the event will feature live performances prior to the scheduled 12 p.m. kickoff.
In addition to the weeklong activities, SA will be collecting donations at campus intersections, and at the intersection of Bay and Tittabawassee. Students will have the opportunity to donate money from their meal plans at the RFoC, and the campus fraternity Alpha Phi Omega will be pumping gas for donations at the Citgo on the corner of Bay and Pierce from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. all week.
Students who have further suggestions, or who are willing to lend a hand with Battle of the Valleys should attend the committee meeting on Tuesday Oct. 23 in the wedge lounge. Events throughout the week are subject to change.
Byers offered her official prediction for the competition: "As long as students of SVSU come together, there's no way those Lakers will bring us down."
See http://www.svsu.edu/clubs/vanguard/stories/1564 for a rundown of the events.