Disability awareness week: JUMP hosts basketball tournament

JUSTIN SIMPSON STAFF WRITER

Last Saturday was the first time the SSU basketball team had partnered with JUMP, a program dedicated to bringing opportunities to the disabled. “It was all about giving back to a group that is always so enthusiastic.” Said SSU Men’s Basketball Coach, Rich Shayewitz. JUMP is a branch of Associated Students (AS) that puts on volunteering events and invites guest speakers routinely to build a better community for everybody. During SSU’s disability week, they decided the timing would be perfect to host a basketball tournament. Coach Shayewitz along with the leaders of JUMP were the organizers who got the ball rolling.

The participants who attended combined with some of the school’s very own basketball players to form teams for the tournament. Many of the participants knew each other from previous basketball events that were usually hosted at different venues such as the Santa Rosa Junior College; the players were thrilled to be having this bonus opportunity to play. Everybody seemed to be loving the event. Coach Shayewitz said, “It’s our first time partnering [with JUMP] and we are really thinking about doing this more often.”

Riley Bornstein, the organizer of the event who works as a representative for JUMP was pleased to see the turnout at the tournament. Bornstein is now considering repeating the event because of its success. In an interview with the Sonoma State STAR, she explained what JUMP is and what the community service program has to offer, “We do about three to four events monthly such as study buddy programs as well as individual tutoring.” JUMP runs on volunteering and therefore relies on the good nature of its community to keep it running.

That good nature was on full display in last

Saturday’s tournament with the event pulling in a crowd of 50 attendees; it was certainly a shining example of success. One of the standout players was a man named Joseph. The 24 year-old was putting on a show the whole time, pulling off spin moves and trick shots that had the crowd ecstatic.

As the game came to an end, Joseph still wanted to continue to play, he couldn’t wait to get back out there. “I loved [the tournament] I scored like eight to ten points but I wanted 12.” He explained. The smiles were everywhere as the players began their journey home. Even with the players looking very satisfied, it was clear the ones who got the most out of it were those who helped run the event voluntarily or otherwise. Many students came to support the volunteering event and they gave the entire event a warm welcoming atmosphere for the participants.