Its Back in Full Swing

The school year seems to be back in full swing. Its only the third week of school and the homework already seems to be endless. That's what we do as college students though. I suppose its our job to read and write papers, before we enter the 'real world' in a few short years. Somehow we all seem to manage though.

Besides class in full swing, all the campus organizations seem to be getting excited for upcoming events. I am on the executive board for Up 'Til Dawn, and we are busy finalizing plans for our big event. What is Up 'Til Dawn you ask?

Up 'Til Dawn is an annual letter writing event on campus. Students form teams and write letters to friends and family to help raise money for St. Jude Children's Hospital. Last year we raised $38,000 for St. Jude's. That means we saved the lives of many kids facing childhood cancer. It costs over $1.2 million a day to keep St. Judes open, so we are opening to raise even more this year. We'll stay up 'til dawn writing letters because cancer doesn't sleep and neither do we. And did you know that the survival rate for kids with acute lymphoblastic leukemia was only 4% in 1962 when St. Judes opened, but the survival rate is now 94%. Now you can't say that isn't amazing!

After all the letters are written to raise money for St. Judes there is a huge finale party to say thanks for everyone who participated. The word on the street is we have a radio station sponsoring our Up 'Til Dawn program, and the radio station will host a free concert here at Simpson for the finale party. I'll keep you posted on the details.

Another amazing thing going on with some of our campus organizations is the Harkin Steak Fry this Sunday. The Simpson College Democrats are helping out with the annual event. Tom Harkin, our democratic senator, is hosting a steak fry where all the 2008 presidential candidates will be present. I'm pumped to help with the set up and registrations, and even more for the opportunity to meet the candidates. If I get a picture with any of them, I'll be sure to post it.

One last thing, tonight the Simpson College Democrats are showing the movie 'United 93' in remembrance of September 11th. So lets pay tribute to those involved with September 11th, and remember them during this week. God bless.