Carolinian

Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: Campus News

Media Credit: TOBY SHEARER/THE CAROLINIAN Some of the 60 some participants that helped beat the world record on Saturday.

"Wake up everyone, it's time to play Twister!" These were the amplified words echoing from the EUC west lawn Saturday morning as the men of Lambda Chi Alpha attempted to break the Guinness world record for the largest Twister board ever played, all in charitable support of the American Red Cross.

The 5,457 square feet of polka-dotted vinyl mats enveloped the lawn, beating the current world record by 2,025 square feet. Guitarist Currie Clayton, from Mebane, N.C. entertained the crowd along with the silent raffle with prizes from Adam and Eve, UNCG Dining Services, Hooters, Hungry Howie's Pizza and the Village Tavern, among others. The enthusiastic crowd played the largest game of Twister UNCG has ever seen. After a two hour and twenty minute game to eliminate the other 56 participants, Caitey Leaman, sophomore, and Vanessa Hunter, also a sophomore, tied for first place.

The events of Saturday were the culmination of the Lambda Chi Alpha's annual event Boulder Days, a week long effort to raise money and awareness for the American Red Cross. The fraternity has been organizing Boulder Days for the past four years, having raised over $5,000 for the charity with increasing efforts every year.

John Johnston, Vice President External Chairman of the Philanthropic Committee, organized this year's events including a faculty/student quiz game called, "Are you Smarter than the Administration?" and an air guitar competition earlier in the week. Boulder Days has become one of the largest Greek-led philanthropies at UNCG.

"We wanted to set a world record, and Twister seemed like something fun that everyone of all ages could participate in and was cost-effective." John Johnston.

Boulder Days itself is part of a larger annual effort sponsored by UNCG called Days of Caring, a month long initiative designed to encourage students and city residents to volunteer.

The program offers students information and flexible volunteer opportunities, either joining an existing venture, or creating their own community projects. The Days of Caring has enjoyed tremendous success for the eight years UNCG has been involved, with nearly 4500 Spartan volunteers completing 18,000 hours of service last year alone.

Dr. Stanley Gajda, with the Office of Campus Activities and Programs, is a main organizer of UNCG's participation in Days of Caring. He believes student community volunteering has been a cornerstone of UNCG's mission since inception, and the effort and success of Days of Caring is only a continuation of that charter.

"Days of Caring is meant to be a starting point, catalyzing a life-long commitment to service," he said.

Days of Caring ends Oct. 22. To volunteer, visit: cap.uncg.edu.

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