When raising funds for a worthy cause, students might stick with Facebook, Twitter and word of mouth, but a University organization took a sweeter approach this year with delicious results.
The Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society raised money for cancer research throughout the semester by giving students the chance to be placed in a lottery to toss a pie at their professors in preparation for this Saturday’s Relay For Life of LSU event.
“For every dollar [a student] donated — kind of like the reaping from ‘The Hunger Games’ — they got a chance to pie their professor in the face,” said biology senior and SAACS president Dante’ Johnson.
Johnson said though the organization also used traditional fundraising efforts like sending emails and contacting friends and family, the team also wanted to have a fun, creative way to raise the money so people would remember the cause.
After winning the lottery on April 1 and 2, the students had to state why they decided to donate money to the cause, Johnson said, and while there were some who wished to take revenge on their professor for a bad grade, others revealed how cancer directly or indirectly affected their lives.
Johnson said SAACS joins forces with other student organizations to form teams for Relay For Life every year, in support of chemistry professor and cancer survivor Carol Taylor.
However, this is the first year SAACS is participating in the event on its own, motivated by its mission for outreach and with chemistry junior, SAACS treasurer and cancer survivor Heidi Olivier as a driving force.
“The problem with cancer is that [scientists] have something that can get rid of it, but it doesn’t always work,” Olivier said. “It’s really nice to know that people are raising money and that this community is so supportive in trying to help students like me see tomorrow. If [scientists] didn’t have the money to fund this research, I wouldn’t be here right now.”
The “Chemists for the Cure,” SAACS’ team name, will walk in the relay and sell liquid nitrogen-frozen ice cream during the event for $2 to raise more funds.
Johnson said having event attendees make their own ice cream using liquid nitrogen will serve as both a snack and a way to incorporate the group’s love for science.
The theme for this year’s relay is “A Cure for the Ages.” Chemistry senior and SAACS vice president Drew Harding said the team will name the ice cream creations with a Pokémon theme to represent the ’90s.
Johnson said a selection of raspberry, strawberry, vanilla and chocolate ice cream will be available during the event.
The team has raised about $1,200, surpassing their $1,000 goal, Johnson said. Chemists for the Cure is currently ranked fourth among more than 40 teams raising money for the event.
“Everyone has been affected by [cancer] in [one way or another], but you never know who else has been,” Harding said. “Cancer is not something people talk about over coffee and donuts, so bringing this up is a way to start the conversation and let people know that not only are they fighting … we’re all fighting together.”
Relay For Life will take place from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday in the Royal Cotillion Ballroom of the Student Union. Proceeds from the event will benefit the American Cancer Society.

Gallery • 2 Photos

Emily Brauner

LSU Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society experiments with liquid nitrogen before their event on the Parade Grounds on Thursday, April, 16, 2015, where they will be raising money for cancer research for Relay for Life by assisting attendees with making their own liquid nitrogen ice cream.