EMU joins wristband trend

Green bracelets sold on campus, at CVS stores

By Kathryn Prater / News Editor
Echo-online
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2005

Through the wearing of new green wristbands appearing all over campus, Eastern Michigan students are helping people in need.

“I wanted to go away to college, and I couldn’t do what I wanted if it weren’t for scholarships,” said Mark Mayberry, a freshman nursing major. “I appreciate that people need help to do what they want to do.”

The money raised by EMU Student Government’s sales of the wristbands will indeed help those in need. All of the money raised through the purchase of the $2 wristbands will go toward funding the Children’s Institute Family Scholarship, which will help make it possible for people in need to afford to have their children cared for at EMU’s Children’s Institute.

“I’m going into elementary education, and I think it’s a good way to show support” for kids, junior Jen Baller said.

The wristbands, which have “Go Eagles” imprinted on one side and “Support the kids” on the other, are popping up all over campus. After starting out with 10,000 wristbands, Student Government has about 4,500 left to sell, said student body President Edward Davis II.

The wristbands, originally available for purchase at the Children’s Institute, CrossRoads MarketPlace, QuickFixx, the Convocation Center, the McKenny Union Lobby Shop and Bookstore and the REC/IM, are also now being sold at three Ypsilanti-area CVS Pharmacies.

“They wanted to get involved with more Eastern Michigan students,” Davis said, saying representatives from the CVS stores asked him for permission to sell them. A person affiliated with Ypsilanti High School has also expressed interest in buying wristbands.

The University plans to purchase wristbands for participants in next year’s new student orientation, Davis said. The EMU Alumni Association is also helping promote sales of the wristbands by spreading them to alumni in other states, and people are even taking them to work to sell.

“I have a few with me all the time so I can sell them,” he said.

Students are doing their part, too.

“I bought a whole bunch and gave them to my family,” said Melissa Forsee, a sophomore elementary education major. “And I gave three to my sister to give to people from our high school who are coming (to EMU).”

Davis said that after the University Bookstore in McKenny Union almost sold out the first day they went on sale, Feb. 7, sales of the wristbands have slowed to a moderate pace, always bringing in at least $200 a day.

“I get calls every day from people asking how they can get them,” he said.

After Davis presented women’s basketball coach Suzy Merchant with a wristband, she asked him for 20 more to give to her players.

“I wanted the sports teams to support the cause,” he said, saying that so far the women’s golf and women’s tennis teams have also bought wristbands.

No student organizations have yet requested wristbands in bulk, but Glenna Frank Miller, director of McKenny Union and Campus Life, has bought them for her staff, Davis said.

Brian Fitzgerald, associate director of University Housing, has also purchased wristbands for his staff, said Laura Egli, graduate assistant for Housing.

“Mine was a gift from Brian,” she said. “To show support for the Children’s Institute.”

Supporting a cause has been listed as many students’ motivation behind participating in the recent trend of wearing colored wristbands.

“I purchased the wristband to support the kids because I feel the $2 is well-spent if helping any charity,” said Andy Pettee, a sophomore psychology major who also wears a yellow Livestrong bracelet and blue University of Michigan bracelets, supporting the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, respectively.

Jason Taylor, a sophomore graphic design major, said he’s seen a lot of people wearing them but that he hasn’t bought a wristband yet.

“I probably will, but if I don’t, it won’t mean I don’t support the cause,” he said.

The creation of the EMU wristbands was sponsored by Student Government, the athletic department, the REC/IM, Dining Services, the Alumni Association, the EMU Foundation, Vice President for Student Affairs Jim Vick and Vice President for University Relations Juanita Reid.

For questions about the wristbands, people may contact Davis at (734) 487-1470 or e-mail him at edavisii@emich.edu.