Neither rain nor snow ...
Big Event continues despite weather conditions
Abby Olcese
Issue date: 4/19/07 Section: Campus Life
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Saturday, April 14, dawned wet, cold and gloomy as a group of student volunteers gathered at Carnie Smith stadium at 10 for this year's Big Event, a day to do good deeds. It had been snowing earlier that morning, but weather conditions didn't deter Danielle Bortmes, the event's director, from going through with plans. "I saw the snow on Saturday morning and thought, 'Oh, no,' but all the groups came anyway," said Bortmes. "We didn't have any groups that didn't show up, though, and nobody complained on Saturday." Bortmes says she wasn't able to move the event back a week because of her own scheduling conflicts. "I was going to be in Texas at the Big Event conference the following week, and I also didn't think we'd be able to hold the food for another week without it going bad," Bortmes said. "Friday, I was getting phone calls from people who wanted me to cancel, but we just had to do it then." Some jobs had to be rescheduled because of weather. "One of our jobs got canceled because the woman didn't want us on her roof while it was wet," Josh McElhaney, senior in elementary education, said. Joe Hartigan, Residence Hall Assembly member, didn't have a job canceled, but says the weather did create some obstacles. "The moisture made it hard to rake," Hartigan, sophomore in automotive technology, said. "We were supposed to move dirt and clean out gutters, but we can't do it when the weather's this bad." Missy Burgess, area coordinator for housing, says the weather was simply something that added to the experience. "It was nice that it stopped snowing," Burgess said. "We had 16 students sign up, and 26 came. We know it's something we should do, the cold just gives us more memories about it." Homeowner Jim Burden has had students come to his house since the Big Event started at PSU, and says it makes him take pride in the university. "The first year we had them come to the house, I'd just gotten out of the hospital with a heart overhaul," Burden said. "We've lived here for 40 years, and we've really got the best bunch of kids here. They've helped keep me alive for 87 years." McElhaney, who was volunteering with the Lambda Chi fraternity, says participating in the Big Event was his way of showing support for the town. "Pittsburg does so much," McElhaney said. "I feel like the town really supports us, so the least I can do is give one day back." Melissa McDonald, freshman in graphics communication, says the best part of the Big Event for her was being among her sorority sisters. "Sisterhood was definitely the best part," McDonald said. "I went out with girls who I didn't know all that well, so I got to know them better." This was McDonald's first year volunteering, and she says she plans to come back next year, regardless of the weather. "I'll definitely do it again," McDonald said. |
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