This year’s Shack-A-Thon had the largest student turnout since the annual event began in 2008, attracting more than last year’s 200 participants.

‘For the past three days, we have seen hundreds of students participating,’ said Maureen Finn, co-coordinator of this year’s event and sophomore public communications major. ‘While some came to help out during the day, a lot of the students spent the nights in the shacks.’

Finn said the exact number of participants was not available, but she had definitely seen a few hundred at the event, which took place from Wednesday through Friday.

Members of the Syracuse University/State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry chapter of Habitat for Humanity coordinated the event.

The 12 student organizations that participated, which included SU greek life and student clubs, set up shacks made of plywood on the Quad Wednesday afternoon and stayed there until Friday afternoon. Finn said this year was the first time each of the 12 shacks sponsored in the event remained occupied overnight.

The money raised will go toward a house the SU/ESF chapter is constructing on Gifford Street, located in Syracuse’s Near Westside neighborhood. Finn said the organizations that participated have until December 3 to raise money. The group expects to raise $6,000 from this event and will be hosting more events in the future to raise funds for the construction.

‘Shack-A-Thon is essentially the kick-off event for our fundraising efforts,’ Finn said.

Nicole Attaie, who participated in this year’s event for the first time with DanceWorks, said she enjoyed being a part of the event and would participate again in the future.

‘It was a lot of fun,’ said Attaie, a sophomore television, radio and film and entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises major. ‘It’s a great way to help underprivileged people while bonding with other students.’

The event concluded after a press conference at 2 p.m. on Friday, during which Peter Rumsey, director of National Service at Habitat for Humanity International, addressed Shack-A-Thon participators.

Rumsey commended SU/ESF’s Habitat for Humanity chapter for its outstanding effort. The chapter was recognized last year as one of the top three Habitat for Humanity campus chapters in the United States for 2010-11.

‘The Syracuse University chapter has a great student presence,’ Rumsey said. ‘This is a vibrant and exceptional group.’

Suzanne Williams, executive director at Syracuse Habitat for Humanity, also spoke at Friday’s press conference, speaking of the chapter’s efforts with gratitude.

‘This group is the only Habitat for Humanity supporter we have that is able to raise funds for an entire house,’ Williams said. ‘I couldn’t be more proud.’

She said Habitat for Humanity hopes to build four or five houses by the end of next year, and she is confident the SU/ESF chapter will be a significant force in achieving this goal.

The press conference concluded with words from Tom Wolfe, senior vice president of student affairs at SU, who spoke about the effects of Shack-A-Thon on the student population.

‘One of the things I love about this event is that it raises very significant questions within anyone who passes the Quad,’ Wolfe said. ‘With this display of shacks, you can’t ignore the issue.’

Hannah Messinger said she was impressed by the spark of interest the display of shacks caused to all that had passed by.

‘You can’t avoid it, people were always asking questions,’ said Messinger, a senior public relations and psychology major who participated in this year’s event. ‘The best part is word of mouth — this is a great way to get the issues of poverty out there.’

adhitzle@syr.edu

Published on September 26, 2010 at 12:00 pm

Contact Alexandra: adhitzle@syr.edu | @LexieHitzler