Frats paws for a cause

By: Kristin Helf, Associate Arts & Life Editor 

On Saturday, Greek Life organizations  Alpha Epsilon Pi and Phi Mu spent the afternoon out on Newell field wrangling dogs, detangling leashes and playing cornhole for a good cause.

“Paws for a Cause” is a dog-themed carnival that welcomed animals as well as students, who arrived with their friends to play with the animals and de-stress after a long week of classes.

Fraternity and sororities members sold food, drinks, dog treats and dog bags to raise money for the Maryland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

“It’s not one of our personal philanthropies,” senior mass communication major and AEPi philanthropy chair Zach Brook said. “But the cause means a lot to a lot of people, so we really wanted to do it.”

In addition to the helping the SPCA, Phi Mu hosted the event to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network.

“It’s our philanthropy, and it’s really great because it’s really close to Baltimore, and we’re able to be very hands-on with the kids and their families,” senior health science major Juliette Strahan said.

Strahan was accompanied by Hank, an Old English bulldog with an Instagram account, @hankk_the_tankk. Hank donned a “Paws for a Cause” shirt, which pictured a canine carnival similar to the one happening on campus.

Senior finance major Madison Nadeau said she came out with her Pomeranian, Nala, because she supports any cause that helps animals.

“It’s for a great cause and my dog loves to play with other dogs,” Nadeau said. “I just think it’s a great community with all the students and the dogs coming together to just have fun.”

While some students brought their own pets, others came alone to support the causes and make new friends, animal or human. Freshman Kaitlyn Valese said that any animal could put a smile on her face, and “Paws for a Cause” had the same effect on her as October’s Howl-o-Ween Parade.

“For Halloween, they had puppies dressed in costumes, and I thought it was so cute,” Valese said. “I was in an angry mood, but I smiled when I saw them.”

Although the event was initially scheduled for Oct. 1 and cancelled due to rain, the carnival on Saturday saw a good turnout of fraternity brothers, sorority sisters and enthusiastic dog-lovers.

“[We’re] having a good time, it’s a nice day, people are bringing their dogs, having them interact,” Brook said. “It’s a lot of fun.”

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