By Ruth Cuevas
One week into Food Fight 2003 and the competition between BYU and Utah is heating up. The Cougars have raised $3,307, while the Utes would only say they are well on their way.
“I”m not giving away any estimates,” said John Fackler, director of Alumni Relations for the University of Utah. “It”s moving along quite nicely.”
With the BYU Alumni Association giving students more options to donate this year, through “Y” marks, the food fight has already brought in more money in the first day than ever before.
“Obviously I couldn”t believe it,” said Emily Martineau, a senior, majoring in community health and a Student Alumni Association employee. “We were just hoping to sell 1,500 in two weeks, but selling 1,500 in the first day was absolutely incredible.”
The Student Dietetic Association helped to raise more than $1,700 with a 5K race on Nov. 8.
“They [the Student Dietetic Association] approached us and wanted to combine efforts,” Martineau said. “We really appreciate the support of BYU students.”
Not only are different clubs and organizations across campus digging into the starting line and their pockets, but individual students are also making an effort.
“Money goes a little bit further,” said Todd Hendrickson, a Food Fight program administrator with the Alumni Association. “The purchasing power of a donation of $5 will provide 17 meals or roughly $130 worth of food.”
Hendrikson emphasizes that $3,307 worth of donations actually equals $85,982 worth of food and approximately 11,244 meals. For this reason, the Alumni Association put a strong focus this year on the cash donation side, calling on the BYU Bookstore to take part in the the effort.
“This is a dramatic improvement thanks to the BYU Bookstore, the ones that have allowed us to sell ”Y” marks,” Hendrickson said. “Last year, the only donations they [BYU] got were at Smith”s.”
To keep up with BYU in terms of cash donations, the University of Utah also introduced “U” marks to their students this year.
“We want to beat BYU,” Fackler said. “If we do our best and we get BYU to do their best and the food bank gets what they need, then we”re happy. Beating BYU is great, but only as long as we are getting max dollars for the food bank.”
Urban Meyer, Utah”s head football coach, is leading up the school”s efforts, collecting money at football games and other events.
“Urban is a breath of fresh air in college athletics,” Fackler said. “He is a can-do guy. It”s great to have pople who care.”
Not only does a dollar stretch farther than a can of food, but one student also believes that the convenience of donating is a significant factor.
“For me personally it”s much easier to pay a dollar to the book store then to go to the grocery store, buy a can and then bring the can to campus,” said Michael Wilson, a senior from Cheyenne, Wyo., majoring in Near Eastern studies.
Bryn Huntington, a music major from Mission Viejo, Calif., also found himself donating money to the cause.
“I have enough money, so I figured I would give to someone whose had it hard in their lives,” he said.
In the back of many students” minds, the competition with the University of Utah also keeps the dollars coming.
One student encourages students to set a good example by donating, but also shared a few words of encouragement with his fellow students.
“BYU should be the shining example in all these things,” Wilson said. “Go cougs. Donate! Donate! Donate! It”s easier than voting.”
