IPC helps One in Four exceed their goals

Yingmeng Yu

Interpersonal communications students had an “amazing” turnout for their
golf outing benefiting One in Four at The Pines Golf Course Sunday.
The fund-raiser, sponsored by the IPC 461: Communication and Leadership class,
helped raise more than $3,323 to fund One in Four’s walk across the country,
an effort to raise sexual assault awareness.
Four One in Four members will participate in “The Walk” from California
to Delaware during seven months.
Pat Hanlin, Three Rivers senior, Steve McAllister, Bay City alumnus, Michael Charbonneau,
Royal Oak senior and Joe McCarthy, Grand Ledge senior, will depart May 6 for their
press conference in Lansing to start “The Walk.”
Some money raised by the event will help provide the students with food, shelter,
equipment, replacement equipment, the five pairs of shoes each of them are expected
to go through and emergencies.
Remaining funds will be given to the Victim’s Assistance Fund at CMU. The
money will provide rape evidence kits for victims of sexual assault.
More than 100 golfers participated in the event Sunday, and class members had
to turn away more than 20 golfers because of too few golf carts.
“We hoped that about 50 golfers would attend and were only expecting to raise
maybe $1,500,” said Scottville senior Randy Boerema, program group liaison.
“This was huge for our class, I think we exceeded our teacher’s expectations
for the project.”

Participants played in a four-person scramble tournament, and each person paid
$45 to play. From every participant’s entry fee, $10 went to the fund-raiser,
and $35 was for the golf course.
Each member of the 34-student IPC class contributed in some way to the creation
and facilitation of the event. Most of them spent a lot of time outside of class
working on the project.
“They did a great job,” Boerema said.
The class had 13 sponsors, each paying $100 to advertise a hole on the course,
said Jackson senior Angela Maurer, program group member.
Twenty-six businesses and associations donated prizes for the event.
Dave Starr, 95.3-FM WCFX radio personality, covered the event and said it was
an important the community was aware of it.
“Even though I had only six on-air breaks to talk about the event, it was
nice to let the let everyone in the community know (sexual assault) is a significant
issue.”
Nancy Buerkel-Rothfuss, interpersonal communications professor, was pleased with
the event’s success.
“I’m not surprised, I knew they could do it. I was also incredibly impressed.”
Buerkel-Rothfuss said people’s willingness to support the cause made her
proud.
“It was astonishing how well they convinced people that this was real,”
Buerkel-Rothfuss said. “They truly demonstrated that they are communications
experts.”
Rachel Sutton, Utica junior, said she was glad the event was successful.
“It was really rewarding to see all the work that we did this semester turn
out as such a success.”
Being professional and raising money for a respectable cause is something Boerema
said he is happy about.
“It’s amazing to see everyone in a classroom project do something so
professional for an awesome cause,” he said.
Rick St. Onge, Port Huron junior and participant, said he was glad to donate to
such a worthy cause.
“I’ve learned so much from the Mount Pleasant area, it was nice to finally
give something back.”
McCarthy and McAllister were both able to attend the event and accepted the check
from the IPC class. They said they were thankful for everyone’s support and
willingness to help.
Sexual Assault Awareness Coordinator Steve Thompson, physical education and sport
associate professor, said he is sick of hearing people say the students at Central
don’t care about what goes on here and in the community.
“These students do give a damn.”