10.1

SPORTS

The Norwich Guidon
Nov. 13, 2003

Women's basketball team raises money for Florida trip

By Justin Fitzgerald
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

Contrary to the popular cliché, the best things in life are not free.

College students have bills to pay, as well as school supplies, athletic equipment and travel expenses.

The Norwich women's basketball team is working vigorously to raise money for athletic gear and a trip to Florida, according to Beth Forney, 19, a sophomore physical education major from Chester, Vt.

"We need plane tickets for everyone to get to Florida, there and back, hotels, meals," said Jamie Abrams, 21, a senior education major from Long Island, N.Y. "We have a tournament. We are playing Florida Memorial, and we are playing Palm Beach Atlantic."

The team is also raising money for much needed athletic gear.

"We are getting a lot of new gear, like our warm-ups, sweat suits, shoes, and I think we are getting bags," Forney said.

"So far, we are doing the phone bank; we did raffle tickets; we are going to do a free-throw marathon, where we shoot 100 free throws and we get pledges for however many shots we make," Forney said.

The team also helped at the chicken barbecue at Quality Market.

"We worked with the Diego family, selling chicken," said Abrams. "We had to go a couple of days before, and we had to skin potatoes and do all that stuff. The day before, we prepared the food, and then that Friday afternoon we sold over 750 pieces of chicken."

The Lady Cadets call prospective students at the phone bank and "the money goes directly to the team," according to Krista Billings, 19, a sophomore architecture major and team manager from Middlebury, Vt.

The work has only just begun, and more fundraisers are planned throughout the season.

"One of our fundraisers in the upcoming future will be selling ESPN, the magazine, around campus and to anyone we know to raise money," said Allison Weber, 18, a freshman architecture major from Canton, Penn.

The team will also be having a "shoot-a-thon" in the near future.

According to Abrams, anyone can donate a certain amount of money per shot, and then each team member will shoot 100 shots to earn as much money as possible.

While it may be fun for the rest of the Norwich community, raising money is not all games for the Lady Cadets.

"It takes a lot of extra time to do it, because you have to go around asking people to actually buy the raffle tickets or give you pledges," Forney said. "It's a lot of work, but it's not bad for what we are getting, so it's worth it."

The Norwich Guidon is a twice-monthly student newspaper distributed at Norwich University. It provides laboratory experience for students in the Communications program. Claims asserted by letter writers, editorials and other articles do not represent the positions of Norwich University. The Norwich Guidon welcomes signed letters to the editor. They should be no longer than 300 words. Unsigned letters will not be printed, but names may be withheld upon worthy request. All letters are subject to editing for length and good taste. Mailing address: The Norwich Guidon, Communications Center, Norwich University, Northfield, VT 056632. www.norwich.edu/guidon. If you have any questions or comments about the paper, please contact Professor Ken Bush at kbush@norwich.edu.