Making Change supports students exploration of Civil Rights History

Faculty, staff, and community friends are all coming together to help the LGBT Center with its "Making Change" fundraiser! Thirteen volunteers have agreed to be contestants in the competition, and the person who raises the most money will perform a number in PINK, the annual drag show, on March 27, 2015.

The competitors are:

• Tommy Arnold, community supporter and founder of Feast on Equality;
• Danielle Dolan, coordinator of academic advising for Arts & Sciences;
• Diane Whitlock, assistant to the vice provost for diversity and international affairs;
• Pam Curtis, director of student leadership and service;
• Luke Buckman, assistant director for Honors;
• Tony Simms, assistant director for medical student affairs;
• Amy Holthauser, school of medicine faculty member;
• Deborah Dietzler, associate vice president for alumni relations and annual giving; and
• Katie Adamchik, director of exploratory programs.

Each contestant has a donation bucket in the Intersection (Room 104, Red Barn) where people can “cast votes” for the person they most want to see perform by dropping off their spare change. Some also have buckets in their offices. While a few contestants are excited about performing, others are planning to make donations to the buckets of other competitors in an effort to stay off the PINK stage.  But that’s part of the fun, says coordinator AJ Jones. “We know it’s probably intimidating to think about performing in PINK, so that’s why we have given all the competitors a way out that still helps us meet the goal of raising funds for the LGBT Center.”

Intimidating is the right word, according to Tommy Arnold.  “I am honored to be considered part of the University of Louisville family, but I'll have to be completely honest in sharing that I've been a wreck ever since I agreed to compete. But when Brian told me how much it means to the students, I simply couldn't say no.”

Jones says some of the funds raised will help students who are part of the Rustin Themed Housing Community participate in a Civil Rights Immersion Trip to Alabama this semester, where they will study the Civil Rights Movement and visit key landmarks for a deeper understanding of what that struggle meant, and still means, today.

Law Professor Sam Marcosson, Red Barn namesake George Howe, and LGBT Center Director Brian Buford are all winners of past competitions.

To contribute spare change to support a contestant, or to learn more about the competition, visit the Intersection or contact AJ Jones at 852-0696.

More about PINK 2015 here.