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Printer-Friendly Mode'Battle' activities, schedule announced
Competition begins Sunday, Oct. 9, winner to be announced at Grand Valley game on Oct. 15 in Allendale
September 26, 2005 —
A golf scramble, dance marathon, and staff versus faculty dodgeball game are new highlights added to the schedule for "Battle of the Valleys III," which will begin Sunday, Oct. 9 and end Friday, Oct. 14. Proceeds from the annual fund-raiser this year will be added to the Hurricane Katrina relief fund.
"Battle of the Valleys," sponsored by both the Student Association and Grand Valley State University student government, is a week-long competition between the two schools to raise the most funds for charity. SVSU won the trophy last year, while GVSU took it in the event's inaugural year.
This year's winner will be announced after the third quarter of the football game on Saturday, Oct. 15. The game, hosted by the Lakers in Allendale, will begin at 7:00 p.m.
SVSU will also be collecting food, clothes, and other goods for the relief efforts, though those will not be included in the competition. Collection points around campus will tentatively include the Regional Education Center, first floor of Wickes Hall, Science East near Java City, the Student Life Center, Living Center South, the laundry room near the old University Village complex, and the Ryder Center by the fitness center.
This year's new events will be grouped with others that have been a staple of the fund-raiser the past two years, including a bon fire, bake sale, and penny war.
The week kicks off with an 18-hole golf scramble at Bay Valley Resort, where participation is open to the campus community. Scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., the scramble will feature 27 teams, hole-by-hole prizes, and a 50/50 raffle. The entry fee per team is $40, which includes a cart as well.
After the scramble is a bonfire across from the intramural fields at 8 p.m. Normally held on the Thursday of "Battle" week, the bonfire is on Sunday to kick off the week, SA President Emily Hammerbacher says.
Monday will be the beginning for several week-long activities. SA representatives and other students wishing to participate will be pumping gas at local gas stations, with the design of getting tips from customers. SA plans to hit the stations at peak hours, such as 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
"The tips might not come as easily as they did last year considering the high gas prices," Hammerbacher says. "But we're optimistic."
The annual penny war will also begin Monday. Open for all student organizations to join, the penny war encourages students to put pennies in their own organizations' collections, and other coins and dollars in other organizations' jars. Pennies count as positive points during the competition, while silver and dollars count as negative. Whichever organization has the most points at the end of the week will receive an extra $500 allocation from SA.
"The Penny War can get pretty intense," Hammerbacher says. "Some groups drop in hundreds of dollars worth of pennies right at the last minute."
Finally, the "Administrative Cardinal Battle" starts on Monday, along with street corner collections from noon until 4 p.m. every day. During the "Battle," staff and faculty raise money to have their favorite administrator - from a collection of five possible choices - in the Cardinal mascot suit. Last year Jim Muladore, vice president for administration and business affairs, had to wear the suit for the "Race the Cardinal" event at halftime of game. With the game at Grand Valley, this year's winner - or loser - would have to wear it throughout the day.
For the street corner collections, students will be standing at three busy intersections on campus: Collings Drive and College Drive East by the Ryder Center and Science East, Collings Drive by the bridge connecting the Living Centers, and College Drive West and University Drive by the Regional Education Center. There is also the possibility of collections at Pierce and Bay roads, and Tittabawassee and Bay roads.
Several other events will happen throughout the week, including a crafts fair, Texas Hold 'em tournament, "Rocking in the Courtyard with President Gilbertson," bowling night, and the aforementioned dance marathon and dodgeball game.
All collections will stop at midnight Saturday morning, according to "Battle of the Valleys" rules. The week concludes, however, with the football game, and SA will be sponsoring three charter buses to take students to Allendale.
To get on the buses, which leave at 1 p.m., students must have with them one of the two t-shirts that SA has been selling since the semester began. Additionally, SA will have 330 game tickets available for purchase in its office, C118, beginning Monday.