By Mary Morley
From the Sailing Club to both the College Republicans and Democrats, BYU clubs are standing out and digging deep to support the “Choose to Give” campaign for BYU”s Annual Fund, which began Monday.
Tim Hart, executive director of BYUSA clubs, said BYUSA actively recruited support from the clubs by talking to the club presidents and attending club meetings to explain the campaign.
And the clubs have responded enthusiastically, said Hart, 24, a junior from Idaho Falls, Idaho, majoring in media arts.
“Everyone we talk to gets converted to it,” he said.
Many of the “converted” clubs will be spreading the word about the campaign throughout the week in Brigham Square.
The Brazilian martial arts Capoeira Club performed Tuesday afternoon to bring publicity to the campaign.
Performances by other clubs, including the Swing Kids and the Cougarettes, are scheduled throughout the week.
The Sailing Club is another group that has chosen to get involved with the campaign.
The club is using a sailboat placed in Brigham Square to draw attention to the campaign, said Sailing Club president, Anthony Portera, 24, a graduate student from Tustin, Calif.
Portera said club members will be stationed at the sailboat and will also be roaming around campus to explain more about the annual fund.
Club members are also encouraged to donate during meetings and via email, he said.
“I just think it”s a great campaign, and I”m glad to be part of it,” Portera said.
The College Republicans and Democrats have also gotten involved.
Diana McArthur, president of the College Republicans, said the two clubs are signing a joint resolution to support the campaign today at 12:30 p.m., in Brigham Square.
McArthur, 20, a junior from Columbia, S.C., majoring in economics, said her club has also petitioned all of its members to donate to the fund.
Hart said the clubs” participation and donations are both compassionate and practical.
On one hand, students are helping other students by donating. On the other, students show support for their university by donating, he said.
“It”s like saying ”I like the education I”m getting,”” Hart said.
Donating also helps BYU”s national ratings improve, which can make BYU degrees more prestigious, he said.
