The nation watched as Texas A&M students and fans arrived one week ago to Kyle Field for the game against Oklahoma State University adorned in red, white and blue. Amazement spread across the crowd when it was announced at halftime that more than 70,000 Red, White and Blue Out T-shirts had been sold, and approximately $150,000 had been raised.
This is one example of Aggies spending time and effort to relieve those affected by the recent tragedies in New York City and Washington, D.C.
Several student organizations such as Alpha Phi Omega, MSC Hospitality and One Army spent countless hours printing, boxing and distributing the T-shirts.
The idea that A&M fans wear red, white and blue at the game first was proposed on the TexAgs.com Website. From this suggestion, Eric Bethea envisioned the entire student body wearing red, white or blue according to the deck they stood on, said Josh Rosinski, a senior petroleum engineering major.
C&C Creations, a local printing company, helped organize a method to put Bethea’s idea into affect. They did not ask for money upfront for the T-shirts.
C&C Creations said a method for payment would be decided after the sales were made. C&C Creation’s main concern was to contribute to what they believed was a good cause.
Volunteers worked around the clock during the week before the game printing and selling the shirts.
“Students and other volunteers were up at 5:30 a.m. to print, load and box shirts,” Rosinski said. “We printed shirts until 9 a.m. on game day. You don’t find people like that anywhere but Aggieland.”
Some Aggies have felt the desire to offer on-site assistance to those in New York City.
Heath Hobler, a senior renewable resources major, and Kris Long, a sophomore aerospace engineering major, wanted to contribute all they could toward those in need. They decided to pack their bags and drive an entire day to New York City. Hobler and Long volunteered by sorting water for the emergency crews.
“The really amazing thing was just seeing how the city came together,” Hobler said.
“You couldn’t walk anywhere without people telling you `Thank you.'”
Several other efforts have been made to raise money for New York City and Washington, D.C.
Karl Pfluger, a junior political science major and member of Beta Theta Pi, said he and fellow members of the fraternity proposed a challenge to all fraternities and sororities in the Greek system at A&M.
“We decided to add $10 to our dues as a contribution to the New York City World Trade Center Relief Fund,” Pfluger said. “We are challenging every fraternity and sorority to match our donation of $1,000, either by adding it to their dues or by taking a collection.”
Several companies are interested in matching the amount raised. Beta Theta Pi hopes to raise around $20,000 from fraternities and sororities that would make total contributions between $30,000-40,000.
Bryan-College Station companies have also contributed money.
Hollywood 16 Cinemark on Highway 6 donated 100 percent of all ticket and concession sales made on Tuesday, Sept. 25, toward relief funds. Several students and community members attended showings that day in support, creating a larger-than-average Tuesday crowd.
“I think that at a time like this, you see all kinds of businesses contributing,” said Matt Guy, assistant manager of Hollywood 16. “We are not the only ones, we are just trying to do our part to show support for our nation.”
In addition to monetary donations, A&M students have sought to offer words of support to all of those involved in the tragedies. Class councils have sent over 300 cards with prayers and encouragement to all of those who lost family.
Kelly Coke, a junior agricultural development major and Class of 2003 class secretary, said class council wanted to help but did not know how.
“We decided to send encouragement cards telling those who lost somebody close to them that they are in our thoughts and prayers,” Coke said.
The class councils are currently working on fundraising ideas for a monetary contribution.