University of Arkansas Fayetteville - Razorback Yearbook (Fayetteville, AR)

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14 Fall

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READ the STORY ON PAGE 14

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STORY: DARCY BOULTINGHOUSE PHOTOS: DAVID SKINNER DESIGN: MADISON LANDRY One sweltering September afternoon, a group of UA students gave an outpouring of support for a good cause—literally. Commonly known as Lou Gehrig ' s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS] is a neurodegenerative disease of the brain and spinal cord. Efforts to raise money in search of a cure took place in the form of an awareness tactic known as the Ice Bucket Challenge. The Ice Bucket Challenge is basically a way to raise awareness for ALS, freshman biology major Jared Stover said. Those diagnosed with the disease say that the symptoms of ALS are similar to what it feels like to dump a bucket of ice water on your head, so that ' s why we do it. Made wildly popular through the use of social media, the Ice Bucket Challenge created major headlines and even captured the attention of celebrities, politicians and other public figures. Stover explained that, in lieu of accepting the challenge, those nominated could make a donation to support the cause. According to the ALS Association, $111.6 million in donations worldwide had been received to help find a cure for the disease at the time of the campus-wide challenge. STUDENTS RAISE A . f+THEIR BUCKETS FOR ALS AWARENESS Freshman business management major Keyan Lunders organized the challenge to take place on Old Main Lawn. My cousin was diagnosed with ALS recently, so I decided to organize a small group of students on campus to help fundraise and kick-start donations for the organization, Lunders said. I presented the idea to some friends during the first week of school, and we thought that completing this challenge seemed like a good way to get that started. Even though I ' m about to pour a bucket of freezing cold water on my head, hopefully the hot temperature outside will warm me back up in a matter of minutes. About twenty students met for the B.Y.O.B. [Bring Your Own Bucket] event prepared to take the challenge. We advertised to our Facebook followers and on other forms of social media, put up posters all over campus, and Chartwells sponsored the ice, senior journalism major Katie Johnson said. It will be my first time to actually complete the challenge, so I ' m pretty nervous. Other representatives of the university who previously completed the challenge included the UA football team and head coach Bret Bielema, faculty and staff of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and members of the Office of University Advancement and University Relations. Additionally, more than 35 faculty members of the College of Education and Health Professions accepted the challenge to honor their coworker ' s wife who succumbed to the disease. Once students ' buckets were filled with ice water, Lunders led a countdown and tipped his bucket alongside his peers with an exclamation of surprise. That was a lot [colder] than I thought it would be, but it ' s for a good cause, so I ' m happy! Lunders said. Ice Bucket challenge 15