LIT LUMINARIAS LINE the track. Each has a personalized message to support Cancer research.On April 25–26, Relay for Life of RPI was held in the Armory. Relay for Life is held to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The event started at 6 pm and lasted until 6 am, with music and performances during the night. RPI students, staff, and community members attended in teams, many of which brought fundraisers and something to sleep on.
Event Chairman Molly Zuk ’14 said that around 1,330 students were registered, compared with 1,300 students involved last year. Zuk said that this year, it seemed to her “that more students were actively involved at the event and stayed longer into the night.” Zuk said that the numbers of registered students tends to be somewhere around 1,300. According to Zuk, the RPI community has raised $73,000 for the American Cancer Society this year.
Teams included fraternities and sororities, RPI clubs, and groups of friends. Sigma Chi had their normal Pie-a-Sig. Rensselaer Pride Alliance sold pins. Other clubs sold baked goods or had games which Relay attendees could play for money. The profits went to Relay for Life. Red & White partnered with Relay for Life to make the pancake breakfast, sponsored by Becton Dickinson. Other clubs that brought teams included: American Nuclear Society, Chess Club, Chinese American Students Association, Circle K, Foreign Language Club, Muslim Students Association, Newman Catholic Fellowship, RPI Humans versus Zombies, RPI Trudge, Rensselaer Chemistry Society, Rensselaer Christian Association, Rensselaer Outing Club, RPI Bhangra, RPI Pep Band, RPI Remembralls, RPI-Sage Hillel, RPI Society of Physics Students, Secular Student Alliance, and WRPI. Sports teams included field hockey, women’s soccer, women’s ice hockey, and men’s lacrosse. Russell Sage College attended, bringing 23 members and raising $1,245, total according to the Relay website.
Fraternities and sororities that brought teams included the two teams that, according to the Relay website, raised the most money. These were Lambda Chi Alpha, with 55 members, who raised $6,330 total and Alpha Phi, with 48 members, who raised $5,848. In third was Colleges Against Cancer, The Committee with 15 members, who raised $2,660.21. Other fraternities and sororities included Alpha Epsilon Pi, Alpha Chi Rho, Alpha Gama Delta, Alpha Phi Omega, Gamma Tau, Delta Phi, Gamma Nu Eta, Phi Gamma Delta, Phi Kappa Theta, Phi Sigma Kappa, Pi Beta Phi, Pi Delta Psi, Pi Kappa Alpha, Pi Lambda Phi, Rensselaer Society of Engineers, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Mu Delta, Alpha Omega Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Sigma Delta, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Tau Epsilon Phi, Theta Chi, Theta of Chi Phi, and Zeta Eta.
Performances by RPI clubs occurred during the earlier part of the night. The RPI Dance Team, Duly Noted, Eighth Wonder, Partial Credit, the Pep Band, The Rensselyrics, RPI Bhangra, Rusty Pipes, Sheer Idiocy, Street Dance Club, and a String Quartet from the RMAall performed. At the same time, soccer games went on in the area next to the performances. Later on in the night, Zumba was led by a local instructor. A fashion show hosted by members of Sheer Idiocy brought much laughter to the crowd.
Relay was far from being about just fun and games; at 9 pm, the luminaria were lighted. Other events, including the Survivor’s Lap at the beginning of Relay, celabrating survivors and loved ones who had passed away from cancer. Booths with information about preventing cancer were set up in various parts of the Armory.
Kyle Newmann ’17, Relay for Life ceremonies co-chairman, said that “Relay is always an amazing event as we have a change to stand together and fight back against cancer.” Zuk said that she felt that this year’s Relay was successful as usual and “I’d really like to thank my committee for putting in so much time and effort over the past semester in order to make this event as great as it could be. Also, thank you so much to everyone who came and donated and we really hope to see everyone excited and back for next year’s event!”