Students rally for M.S.

By Jess Camp

Published Feb. 26, 2008

Last week, some students were thrown in jail, with no choice but to get their bail money by soliciting donations in Brady Commons with plastic cups, asking for spare change. Other students made their way around town doing good deeds, such as painting walls or building shelves, for people who can’t do it themselves. Still others, donning colorfully wacky outfits, took over The Blue Note and performed lip-synching dance skits to popular songs.

All of these atypical events took place last week as part of Rockin’ Against Multiple Sclerosis, an annual event in which members of student organizations — many of which are Greek chapters — raise money for M.S. research and treatment.

RAMS co-director Sara Harper said all of the funds raised are given to the Multiple Sclerosis Institute of University Health Care and support people with M.S. around Columbia. The two other Tri-Directors are Steve Scott and Adam Knese.

The money goes to buy medical supplies including ramps, wheelchairs, walkers, cooling vests and more, Harper said.

Harper said the week raised $75,000 for the institute.

The event is a competition between participating sororities, fraternities and organizations.

Delta Gamma sorority, FarmHouse fraternity and Little Sisters of the Pearls and Rubies service organization won the fundraising competition in their respective categories.

To start the week, members of Greek organizations went throughout the community helping people with M.S. do chores that they struggle to complete.

“Patients that use the M.S. Institute send us service requests,” Haarper said. “We cleaned kitchens and worked on things that we take for granted that they can’t do.”

Though doing work on a Saturday isn’t most people’s idea of fun, it is quite rewarding, participants said.

“We painted a lady’s apartment,” senior Phi Kappa Theta member Dan Kuhlman said. “It wasn’t fun, but seeing how she couldn’t move and we made her day better was fulfilling.”

The next day’s featured activities included speeches given by current and former MU students with M.S.

“It was cool to hear from other students,” freshman Alpha Delta Pi sorority member Lauren Hasler said. “I didn’t know about M.S. so it was interesting to learn how they were diagnosed and deal with it.”

Attendees said listening to the speeches was interesting and informative.

“The speakers hit close to home,” junior Alpha Delta Pi member Theresa Elbert said. “It was an eye-opener to see normal people talking about their M.S.”

Attendees said the stories were interesting, as well as encouraging.

Another event during this week of raising funds was called “Jail ‘N Bail.” Volunteers hit the doorways and heavily trafficked areas of Brady Commons, shaking their plastic cups at everyone who passed by in hopes of getting a little bit of spare change.

“It’s fun,” Harper said. “It’s a good way to spread awareness throughout Mizzou.”

Instead of giving change, some people passing by gave weird stares.

“Most look at me like I’m crazy,” Kuhlmann said.

Freshman Alpha Chi Omega sorority member Nikki Rosenhauer said she wanted to be locked in jail for a personal reason.

“My grandma has M.S., so it’s personal and I want to participate,” Rosenhauer said.

She said that the change-receiving business was a little slow.

“Most people just use their cards and don’t carry money,” she said

Some passersby put in their headphones or ignored requests for donations, but participants appreciated when people did give money, they said.

“It’s nice when people respond, whether or not the have change,” sophomore Phi Kappa Theta member Rory Faust said.

Perhaps the most anticipated part of the week was Rock It!, a lip-synching dance contest. The winners were Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and the Little Sisters of the Pearls and Rubies.

One of the acts that got a lot of laughs was a compilation of various songs made by Britney Spears performed by Alpha Phi sorority members. The performers dressed up in wedding gowns, a red skin-tight hot suit and an outfit with a stuffed snake draped around the shoulders. The part that made the crowd laugh the most came at the end of the skit, when for the act’s finale, a dancer pulled off her blonde wig right when the song “(You Drive Me) Crazy” came on, to symbolize when Spears shaved her head.

Another skit was about girls having fun in the sun at the beach, performed by Alpha Chi Omega members.

Junior Alpha Chi Omega member Whitney Sevy dressed in yellow bright yellow shorts and tank top to play the sun.

“I wanted to get involved,” Sevy said.

Everyone told her that the sun fit her personality, so she was honored to have that part, she said.

Freshman Alpha Chi Omega member Jennifer Fox said she enjoyed performing.

“It was a lot of fun,” Fox said. “I was nervous, but our dance came together well. It was a blast.”

Though the week had a lot of fun festivities, it did all have a strong purpose.

“We’re the largest campus-wide philanthropy,” Harper said. “We’re dedicated to increasing awareness throughout the community.”