Phi Kappa Sigma dunks VCU Police for charity
What’s an effective way to make $300 an hour?
Dunk the police.
Mason Brown
Staff Writer
What’s an effective way to make $300 an hour?
Dunk the police.
Under normal circumstances, dousing an officer in water would be considered a crime, but thanks to the charitable efforts of Phi Kappa Sigma and VCU Police, it was not only legal, but encouraged last Thursday.
The joint effort between the fraternity and the police department drew a sizable crowd to the VCU Commons Plaza. Students gathered for the opportunity to sink an officer via a dunk booth for the low price of $2, which went to each organization’s respective charity. The event brought in a little more than $1,200 in four hours.
Students were able to try one throw for $2, three throws for $3, or $10 for six throws and a T-shirt. Other throws could win a shirt for sinking an officer. Students wanting to get in the dunk tank had to get a special donation to be placed into the tank.
Phi Kappa Sigma’s organization, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, received the fraternity’s half, while VCU Police will send theirs to the Virginia Special Olympics. Khiem Tran, philanthropy chair for the fraternity, said the event was far more successful than they were expecting.
VCU Chief of Police John Venuti said that the Virginia Special Olympics does a lot of good in Virginia with their programs and the games they host. When Phi Kappa Sigma contacted the police station there was no hesitation getting the event together.
“When they contacted us, we jumped all over it,” Venuti said. “It was a good chance to get out and interact with the students and raise a little money while we’re at it.”
“For four months we were organizing the event and it finally paid off. … The event was a total success, and we’re definitely doing it next year,” Tran said.
The key to the events success? According to Tran, good-spirited revenge.
“Who doesn’t want to dunk a VCU officer that has written them a ticket?” he said
Besides Venuti, Officers Barney Burns and Matt Ruland, Captain Mike O’Berry, Captain Grant Warren, Assistant Chief Chris Preuss, Officer Stephen Adt, Officer Joe Demro, Officer Shawn Kelley, Officer Blake Neace and Corporal Rebecca Ellison participated.
