Spirit stays strong all night long

Staying up all night to play your favorite sport? Or how about not sleeping to raise money for the Indiana Special Olympics? Not what most would call your typical Friday night, but thousands gave up their time for this worthy cause.\nThere was something for everyone at the 2004 Spirit of Sport. \nThe event, held from 5 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday, offered students and Bloomington residents more than just an opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities at the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.\nThe goal behind the annual all-nighter was to continue the tradition of the longest running fundraiser for Special Olympics Indiana. Since its beginning in 1976, SOS has raised more than $300,000. \n"It's a great way to raise money for (Special Olympians) so they can do what they love and play sports," junior Laura Brandenburg, SOS vice president of programming said.\nSOS offered its participants the chance to take part in 12 tournament sports and more than 26 various activities including an Oreo stacking contest, limbo and a Polar Bear Plunge. \nTaking part in the Oreo stacking contest was the newest pledge class at Sigma Delta Tau. \n"I liked the Oreo stacking," freshman Abbey Meltzer said. "It was fun to watch the girls try to stack them up. I didn't do so well as the other girls."\nThe women of SDT joined the fun at SOS as a philanthropy event. Meltzer said she had a great time knowing the money raised at the event was going to a good cause. The group of 47 watched as its pledge sister took the Polar Bear Plunge and others participated in other events. \nAs the eight-hour long event progressed into the night, activities went from "normal" to just plain crazy. Wildermuth Gym was packed with participants ready to test their skills at traditional sporting events such as basketball, indoor soccer, flag football and ultimate frisbee and the not-so-traditional offerings of hula-hooping, beach bingo, bull riding, and pool Scrabble. \n"It's all so much fun to see," sophomore Katelin Fehrenbach said. "I'm still here watching after volunteering."\nSimilar to years past, crowd favorites included the Polar Bear Plunge and celebrity auction. The Plunge took place outside of Wildermuth in snowy 10-degree weather. Plungers, who were in high spirits and dressed in everything from ballet tights to Hawaiian shirts, didn't seem to mind.\nThe auction was a bit warmer fun, offering items from stars like Katie Couric and WWE star, The Rock, autographed photos, an Indianapolis Colts media pack and a Dallas Mavericks autographed basketball. \nWith more than 200 volunteers, Executive and Steering Committees' preparation for SOS began last September and has been going strong since. \nThe benefits go beyond a night of fun and raising money for Special Olympics Indiana, said Joanne Orrange, recreational sports assistant director of special events. \nOrrange said SOS gives students a chance to gain confidence and experience by working as leaders and coordinating events. More than 20 students serve as event coordinators, executive board members and steering committee members. \nThe students participate year-round in planning SOS and devote about 15 hours a week to meetings and planning. Other student organizations, such as IU Student Foundation, Student Athletic Board, Student Recreational Sports Association, Intramural Sports Council and Residence Halls Association sponsor events. \nBrandenburg agreed with Orrange on the benefits of SOS. Brandenburg has been involved with SOS for three years. She first volunteered for the event with her dorm floor freshman year and took on leadership roles the following two years. Brandenburg said she was thankful for all the extra help SOS has gotten this year from classes and additional volunteers. \n"So far everything has been great," she said, nearing the midnight mark. "It seems like things are really put together well this year, everything is very well-organized. We had so much help from extra people; it was great that we could have that much help."\nAs part of a class project, Recreational Sports Management students were asked to participate in SOS as volunteers. \nDespite the class requirement, sophomore Tom Hughes said he had heard about SOS from a friend last year and had been looking forward to checking out the event for the first time.\n"Even if I didn't have to be here for class I would have come and it would have been wonderful," Hughes said. "I would have had the same amount of fun I'm having right now."\n-- Contact staff writer Katie Schoenbaechler at kmschoen@indiana.edu.