Shack-A-Thon

Where: The Quad

When: Wednesday to Friday

How much: Free

Maureen Finn caught pneumonia at last year’s Shack-A-Thon. But that hasn’t curbed her excitement to participate in the event again this year.

‘I fell in love with the experience, even though I got sick,’ said Finn, co-coordinator of the event and a sophomore public communications major.

Shack-A-Thon is an annual event in which various student organizations populate the Quad with 12 shacks to raise money and awareness for the Syracuse University/State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry chapter of Habitat for Humanity. The event began at 1 p.m. on Wednesday and will conclude Friday afternoon, with students living and sleeping on the Quad in shifts.

This is the third year the SU/ESF chapter of Habitat for Humanity has hosted the event. More than 200 students participated in last year’s event. Finn said she expects there to be a similar turnout to last year’s event.

‘It’s a really great experience, and what it stands for is even better,’ Finn said. 

The event is designed to raise awareness for the need for affordable housing, as well as funding for a house Habitat for Humanity is constructing on Gifford Street in Syracuse’s Near Westside neighborhood, said Justin Cole, president of the chapter. SU/ESF’s chapter completed a similar house last year on Elliott Street.

‘This is an event that seeks to raise awareness of affordable housing by presenting an in-your-face, real depiction of how some individuals in this country are forced to live,’ Cole said.

The houses on the Quad are made of plywood and plastic sheeting, and each student group decorates the outside of its own shack by spray painting words and other art. After the event, four of the shacks will be donated to Youth United, a Habitat for Humanity program for youth, to auction them off. The remaining eight houses will be donated to local families to serve as playhouses.

Student organizations taking part in the event sponsor the shacks and form teams to reside in the shacks during the event. Organizations participating in this year’s event include University Union, Orange Seeds, DanceWorks and various sororities and fraternities.

Those participating in Shack-A-Thon are also responsible for hosting events to attract students to the Quad. Events range from a stretch routine led by DanceWorks to dodgeball to ultimate Frisbee tournaments. UU planned a showing of ‘The Hangover’ at 9 p.m. on Wednesday in Gifford Auditorium and will also hold a concert featuring SU a cappella groups at 8 p.m. on Thursday in Gifford.

The event will conclude Friday at 2 p.m. with a press conference, featuring a speech from Rep. Dan Maffei, D-N.Y., and speakers from Habitat for Humanity International.

‘Essentially, we host a variety of activities because we want to make sure we maintain the interest of the student population throughout the event,’ said Frances Batarse, co-coordinator for this year’s event.

Batarse said she expects more student turnout this year and hopes it will be even bigger next year.

‘I hope that the event grows every year,’ Batarse said. ‘Eventually I hope to see the Quad full of shacks.’ 

adhitzle@syr.edu

 

Published on September 22, 2010 at 12:00 pm

Contact Alexandra: adhitzle@syr.edu | @LexieHitzler