During tomorrow’s tailgating festivities before theSMU-Louisiana Tech football game, students and faculty alike willbe arrested and jailed, but all for a cause.
As part of Mustang Marathon’s “Jail-N-Bail”,pre-selected individuals will be “arrested” by the SMUPD and taken to the Mustang Marathon “jail” (to belocated at the top of Bishop Boulevard next to the flag pole).
An 8-by-8 foot cage will hold at least 10 student and facultyvolunteers, and each “prisoner” will then be held untilhis or her respective organization is able to come up with at least$250, the cost of bail.
For those not pre-selected, anyone may pay a fee of $5 to jail afriend. These “last-minute prisoners” will require $50to be released.
“We want to have a good turnout,” said AshleyEarnest, “and raise money and awareness for theMarathon.”
As chairperson of the fundraising committee, Earnest explainedthat the Jail-N-Bail is part of a “point system that willchallenge groups on campus, [including] religious groups,sororities and fraternities, to win big prizes like a big-screen TVor a party.”
Events such as “Jail-N-Bail” have been successful atother college campuses across the nation. In 1994, for example,University of Minnesota’s chapter of the Sigma Alpha Epsilonfraternity began an annual event that has grossed up to $21,000 ina year to benefit Minnesota Special Olympics.
“We walked into this 10 years ago, raising only$1,000-$5,000,” said Andy Pierce, current president ofMinnesota’s SAE chapter. “Hopefully, we’ll raiseeven more money this April.”
While an afternoon in the slammer may not sound like the mostappealing tailgating activity, time in jail will not be so bad; the”imprisoned” will get to rock out to tunes from JACK100.3 FM and indulge in donated goodies.
All proceeds collected at Jail-N-Bail will be put into theMustang Marathon Fund, along with the rest of the proceeds fromother fundraisers to be held throughout the school year. In May,all of the funds will be donated evenly to the Elizabeth GlaserFoundation and Bryan’s House.
For more information about “Jail-N-Bail” or MustangMarathon fundraising, please contact Ashley Earnest at (214)336-4212.
