Mad about your glove box full of parking tickets? Still bitter about being written up freshman year? Angry that your beer got dumped? Well here’s your chance to get back at Public Safety…all in good fun of course.
In addition to concerts, food and a waterslide, this year’s Spam Jam festivities will include a Public Safety dunk tank where students can drench their “favorite” officer. All proceeds from the dunk tank will go to the Special Olympics.
“The dunk tank is going to be great,” said Todd Pelazza, director of Public Safety. “It’s a great opportunity for Public Safety to raise some money for Special Olympics. I think the students will get a real kick out of it, too. It presents Public Safety in a way people never really get to see us.”
“We’re really excited about the dunk tank,” said Melissa Ringer ’06, a chair of RASOR/Unite, the group which is organizing Spam Jam. “We think it’s something that students will really enjoy.”
Prices at the dunk tank will be $3 for one ball, $5 for three balls and $10 to run up and push the button to dunk an officer.
The dunk tank will be located at the townhouses by the 8, 9 and 10 blocks from 1 to 4 p.m.
“It should be a fun event. So far we’ve got nine Public Safety officers to volunteer to be dunked,” said Pelazza.
“We’re getting a kick out of it ourselves,” he added. “There’s even some friendly rivalry to see who will get dunked the most and raise the most money.”
In addition to Pelazza, administrators Frank Ficko and Mike Lauzon have also agreed to be dunked. Sergeant John Ritchie and officers Rit Schwatlow, Heather Dayo, Karen Panza and Danielle Visconti will also take part in the event.
“I’m sure some students will be especially excited to see certain officers up there,” said Pelazza. “It’s their chance to get a little friendly revenge. But it’s all in good fun, and it’s for a great cause.”
“It’s a great, positive way for students to interact with security and raise money for a great cause,” said Ringer.
According to Pelazza, Public Safety has been involved with the Special Olympics for several years. In past years, the Special Olympics summer games were held on campus. Since then, Public Safety has continued to support them through fundraising efforts.
In recent years Public Safety has raised money through Tip-a-Cop, a program where officers assist servers at local restaurants and ask diners to make donations to the Special Olympics.
According to Pelazza, there may be another Tip-a-Cop program at Dunkin’ Donuts before the end of the year and another at Joe’s American Bar and Grill next fall.
“Part of the reason we decided to do the dunk tank is because the university has such a close association with Special Olympics,” said Pelazza. “From our own experience, you get back tenfold what you put into it. We love working with them, and we hope the students will come out and support us.”
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