A weekly publication by Loras College students
Vol. 90, Issue 16
April 26, 2012
my lorian.com
Photo by rajendra thakurathi
The little college that could
For 7th year in a row, Dance Marathon increases its fundraising total by 20% by NICK JOOS
co-executive editor
5-year-old Dubuque native Anna Weitz is a trooper. Since the age of 3, she has suffered from Rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer of the muscle tissue. She undergoes radiation treatment, causing painful sores all over one of her hands. But when asked how much her hand hurts, she holds up the other one. “Yeah it hurts, but this one’s fine,” she says. Optimism. Here’s to you, kid. Loras College Dance Marathon, which benefits children like Anna, raised $155,806 last Friday night with her, and hundreds like her, in mind. The event now has increased its fundraising total by 20 percent every year for seven consecutive years. When the initial goal of $135,000 was met two weeks prior to the actual dance, DM President Nicole Myers knew this was going to be a special year. “When we brought in that much (money), getting us to the 20 percent increase for the seventh year, I knew we had even more to be proud of,” said Myers, “We had already broken so many records with Fourteen mini-marathons and corporate sponsors, our dancer fundraising realstudents ly stepped it up to get us to where we each raised ended up.” $2,000 or “When I realized we were going to break the goal, I was so excited and more. thrilled, and it took everything I had to hide my emotions,” said Miranda Hier, one of many who coordinated DM fundraising. “Once I found out the official number at about 4:30 Saturday morning, I dropped to the ground. DM is my life. It’s more than just an organization that I’m a part of.” Dance Marathon’s record total of funds can be broken down into three categories: Campus fundraising, corporate fundraising, and community outreach, earning $11,204.57, $23,624.52 and $35,785.03, respectively. Then, the dancers’ money was added to the pile. Fourteen students each raised $2,000 or more, and the average amount raised for each of the 341 dancers was $256.68. “It’s great to see so many people become invested in a cause and organization that they love,” said Eileen Torpy, DM recruiter and dancer relations coordinator. “All the work we’ve done this year connecting the Loras community to the Miracle Families was worth it.” “It is one shining example of our students at their best,” said Dean of Students Art Sunleaf. “I’m overjoyed with the efforts of all the individuals involved with making this a record-breaking success,” said 2012-2013 Student Union President-elect Daniel Thole. “Without expecting anything in return, they serve as an inspiration to the Loras community to show just how great an impact we can have.” The night itself was filled with activities and speakers to liven up the crowd. DM’s website, lorasdm.org, has a video of one of the speakers, Zac Johnson, the head of the Iowa Children’s Miracle Network. He spoke of Loras’ superiority on a national scale. “To me, this was quite the honor and eye-opening speech, especially for our first-time dancers who are just beginning to grasp the affect they have on the kiddos treated at the hospital.” Myers added.
College reaches deal on Cox Street project The first phase of construction for the multifaceted, multimillion-dollar project is expected to begin within a month
ment, while offering various functional outlets for the school. Proposals are in place for a welcome center/security center next to the stair tower, accompanying plans for While the contract has not been signed, the college has a potential bookstore, coffee shop, patio, fountain and outreached a tentative agreement with Horsfield Construction door movie screen. In addition, large events could be held Inc., based in Epworth, to construct the Cox St. project. on the street. John McDermott, director of the physical plant, is workMcDermott said that one of the sticking points in the ing with the architects and the engineering staff. After design was the prospect of putting chairs on turf, as the about a five-year wait, he anticipates the initial chairs sometimes would sink into the ground. As work on Phase One of the project to begin witha result of some revisions, there will be a flat ceThe street in a matter of days. ment surface to put chairs and hold events. It McDermott said that part of the reason the plans were a will be a multi-purpose area and, according to process was slow — it was supposed to start collaborative McDermott, a “very attractive venue.” last winter — is a result of the Iowa DepartWith the first phase construction scheduled to effort with start ment of Transportation’s involvement. Howevsometime in May and a contract set for 75 er, because the DOT is assisting Loras finandays, Loras will be doing some preparatory work alumni, cially on the project, McDermott says it was week. Before the heavy work begins, college student life this worth the wait. crews will remove some old sewer pipes and waThe total cost for the multi-phase project is ter lines. McDermott said that it would not make and CAB. high, but Phase One, which involves the rensense to do the project and then have to tear up ovation of the street itself, will cost around the pipes and lines two years later. $650,000. The rest of the phases will be “in the millions McDermott said that phase one will not be completed of dollars,” said McDermott. by the early part of next semester. He expects there will be The street plans were a collaborative effort with alum- “substantial” progress by homecoming. ni, student life and CAB. The groups sat down to “(have) Kim Walsh, director of student life, said she is “excited a conversation about what they would like to see,” Mc- about the student space.” Currently, even with the athletic Dermott said. field, it is still difficult to find spaces to hold outdoor activThe project will satisfy students’ desire for entertain- ities, she said. The redesigned street will be that space.
by NICK SENTOVICH staff writer
Your one-and-only chance to ‘swing’ an election? One person’s vote occasionally is a difference-maker. The first-round of voting for the 2012 “Person of the Year” suggests that the final, second-round vote will be incredibly close. And not just for two candidates duking it out. The number of nominees has been narrowed from 27 to 10, and all of them enjoy broad support, as we’ll explain on Page 4.
The 10 ‘finalists’ are introduced on Page 3.