RHA to fund breast cancer research with T-shirts

Proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.

By Krissy Tripp

Published Oct. 7, 2008

"Real Tigers Wear Pink" was the winning T-shirt slogan selected during the Residence Halls Association external committee meeting preparing for the Paint it Pink campaign.

Students can donate a minimum of $5 to purchase T-shirts that benefit breast cancer research and then wear them at the end of the month to raise awareness.

RHA donated about $15,000 to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation in the past two years combined.

However, this year RHA raised T-shirt prices so it would not lose as much money in the campaign as it has in years past. During 2006 and 2007, RHA donated both the entire T-shirt cost and 100 percent of money raised from T-shirt sales.

During a past meeting, the idea of partial reimbursement versus a 100 percent donation was heavily discussed and voted upon. Johnston Hall representative Ebonie Young brought up the motion to keep some money for RHA's own funds from buying the shirts instead of donating because the shirt cost is such a large portion of the external committee's $5,000 semester budget. Last year, shirt costs were approximately $2,700.

Young said she would prefer RHA spend that money on residents.

She proposed charging an extra $2 on top of the $5 donation per shirt sold at the tables to help RHA retain some of its funds.

The only representative to vote against the motion was Doug Cowing from the Floor Leaders at Virginia Avenue.

"If we're having a specific event for breast cancer awareness, we should donate all of the money to the charity," he said. "I also feel really passionate about cancer research."

The external committee can ask the internal committee for more money from the overall RHA budget if needed.

Order forms will be out in residence halls only on Wednesday and are due Oct. 23. Only cash and check will be accepted.

Beginning Oct. 24 and continuing Oct. 27 through 29, RHA representatives will sell the shirts in Brady Commons. RHA does plan to raise the prices after pre-ordering ends.

National Communications Coordinator Lauren Thomas submitted the winning design, but not before RHA chose to incorporate elements of other designs submitted. A shirt subcommittee will decide further shirt designs, but the pink shirts will have a breast cancer ribbon and say "Real Tigers Wear Pink."

RHA donates all money to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation as a private donation. The foundation funds research, grants, education and medical services.