Good Scholar election raises money for cancer research

The 14th Annual Good Scholar Election kicked off Sunday with the Cancer Research Mile Walk, in which candidates representing campus organizations walked from Alpha Phi sorority house to Delta Sigma Phi fraternity.
Organizers hope this year’s campaign will be as successful as it has been in the past. The Good Scholar Election, which raises money for cancer research, is a two-week campus event in which groups such as fraternities and sororities are encouraged to produce candidates to participate.
The election, sponsored by Theta Delta Chi Fraternity, has raised $350,000 to date for the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the American Cancer Society, and $450,000 overall in research restricted and unrestricted funds.
Through Nov. 23, people will vote for good scholar candidates through donations at ballot boxes around campus. Voting tables will be set up on the second floor of the University Center and the atrium of the Rauch Business Center every day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and at the Ulrich Student Center every day from 2 p.m. to 4p.m. Each dollar donated counts as one vote. Students can make donations with cash or Gold Plus.
There are 41 candidates registered for this year’s election, including representatives from fraternities, sororities, clubs, and honor societies. Each organization pays a $100 entry fee for its candidate, who is required to have a 3.25 cumulative GPA to participate.
Bringing the campus together
David Munsky ‘05, president of Theta Delta Chi, sees the event as a great way for the entire community to work together.
“The event is important because it is a great cause that many people believe in,” Munsky says. “It is important to get involved in philanthropy work at a young age and the Good Scholar Election is an opportunity for campus-wide participation toward a common goal. The event involves almost everyone on campus in some way: students, faculty, administrators, staff, alumni, and family. It is also a great event because it shows the strength of the Lehigh family. We receive donations from alumni who graduated as early as the 1940's.”
Theta Delta Chi has hosted the event for the past four years. The fraternity usually raises the most funds, but as host organization they forfeit the chance of claiming any prizes.
Last year the election raised $22,750. The top three organizations were Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, Delta Tau Delta fraternity, and the Panhellenic Council. The goal for this year’s election is $30,000.
In the past, candidates have come up with creative ways to raise money including selling raffle tickets and even kidnapping faculty and staff members to the Tally-Ho, holding them until they collect enough ransom” from friends and family.
The top three candidates will be honored at a ceremony on Dec. 1, where Jean Farrington, honorary chairperson and senior development officer and Linderman Library liaison, will award prizes.
The first-place organization receives $500 and the candidate is awarded a $200 gift certificate from the Bridgeworks Irish Pub; second place receives a $300 check and a gift certificate for the candidate from Bethlehem Sporting Goods; third place collects $200, with the candidate receiving a gift certificate from the University Bookstore.
The treasurer of the event is Alvin Cohen, professor emeritus of economics, who has been involved in the campaign since its inception in 1989. The Theta Delta Chi Philanthropy Chair is Ronald Maurer ’04.
--Joy Fasanya