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24-hour improv people

The Ritalin Test Squad prepares for its 24-hour fundraiser for DVA/SAC

by Kwon Yang

Tonight, 11 students will fill their bodies with stimulants and let loose not for a good time, but for a good cause.

The Ritalin Test Squad will host the first 24-hour improv marathon in campus history to raise awareness for domestic violence and sexual assault. Members have sold raffle tickets outside dining halls for the event. Scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. in Gardner Lounge, it will end the next day in Main Lounge. All of the proceeds are going to the Domestic Violence Alternatives/Sexual Assault Center, Inc (DVA/SAC).

The Ritalin Test Squad first got the idea to hold a marathon from a new member, Andy MacDonald, French, who had done improv marathons as fundraisers before. The group will probably play more "long-form" games, which are usually around 15 to 40 minutes. The group has a list of 30 or 40 games, some of which they haven't played in a year.

"From what I understand, nobody has done this ever before on campus," said Paul Wainright '07. "We are going to have a lot of coffee and a lot of Red Bull. It's kind of important that we are in that same place for the long haul because we kind of need to bunker down ? If people get really tired and want to take a nap, they can take a nap, but it sounds like everyone is going to stay up for 24 hours."

The group is hoping to raise at least $250 from students. Russell K. Osgood has said that he will match every dollar donated by the student body with personal funds.

"The whole troupe fell in love with the idea of doing a marathon as a fundraiser," said Kathryn Thomas '05. "Because we had known a student who had volunteered with DVA/SAC and spoke very highly of the organization, we decided that they would be a good recipient for any money that we could raise."

DVA/SAC is a nonprofit organization that receives funds from the federal government and is currently implemented in four Iowa counties: Marshall, Jasper, Poweshiek and Tama. It offers a variety of support for victims such as peer counseling, a 24-hour hotline, support groups, safe shelter, court advocacy and medical advocacy.

Many local and national businesses have contributed to this event.

"We've gone to local businesses and invited people from the community to come in," said Wainright. "It's a local cause that a lot of people on campus are in tune with.?On the one hand, it's great if you can donate money, but it's also great if people can volunteer and raise awareness for this cause."

According to DVA/SAC, last year there were 856 cases of victims of domestic violence and 79 cases of victims of sexual assault in the four counties. In Poweshiek County alone, there were 62 cases of domestic violence and nine cases of sexual assault.

Teresa McCall, the Poweshiek outreach coordinator, reports that since September calls have increased.

"I think that it's a bigger problem than people think because victims don't always come forward, and we aren't highly visible right now," McCall said. "It's not well known that we are available, so having many advocates on campus will help increase our visibility."

Currently there are 20 advocates on Grinnell's campus, and 10 more are undergoing training.

"I think [the improv marathon] is wonderful. It was kind of a nice surprise," said McCall.

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