Giant red 'h' teaser of new campaign drive

They are everywhere. Hanging in almost every classroom in Sycamore Hall. Stapled to the kiosk outside of the Arboretum. Attached to the wooden walkways while you are on your way to Ballantine Hall. Students can't help but spy the giant, red lowercase 'h' plastered all over campus.\nThis teaser campaign is only a precursor. Starting Wednesday, the IU chapter of Habitat for Humanity will begin campaigning for signatures from 25 percent of the enrolled student body. That amounts to about 10,000 signatures, said IU Habitat for Humanity president junior Tony Bruno.\n"Our goal is to raise awareness about our organization while collecting the signatures," he said.\nAlong with Bloomington High School North, IU works under the Monroe Country affiliate of Habitat for Humanity. Since 1990 the IU chapter has helped gather volunteers and raise money for the affiliate, said Kerry Pattillo, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County.\n"The students bring a tremendous amount of energy and insight to our work," she said.\nHabitat for Humanity at IU holds two main events during the school year to raise funds to sponsor a house. The Rake-A-Thon is held during the fall, and a 5K Run-Walk happens during the spring.\nHabitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that helps provide decent and affordable housing to those in need, according to the Habitat for Humanity International Web site.\nSince establishing a chapter, IU has sponsored a full house in 1998 at a value of $50,000 and half of a house in 2002 at a value of $25,000. Unfortunately under current funds, frequent sponsorship is not an option.\n"The IU chapter doesn't come by the opportunity to actually sponsor house builds often," said IU Habitat for Humanity member sophomore Constance Renkenberger.\nSpecial events raise only a couple of hundred to a couple of thousand dollars, Renkenberger said. Hard work isn't enough.\n"It takes around $50,000 to sponsor a house, so it takes our chapter years to save up enough to sponsor a house."\nFamilies who want to purchase a home through Habitat for Humanity are placed on a waiting list. This list usually consists of 10 to 12 families at any given time.\n"Families are now waiting about two years for their home, which we all think is a little too long," Bruno said.\nStarting Wednesday all 138 members and 13 board members of the IU chapter will be working hard to spread the word. The first phase of the campaign consists of visiting all the Greek houses and residence halls on campus. Five hundred yellow T-shirts with the catchphrase "STOP Substandard Housing" will be handed out for free in hopes of enticing students to sign the petition. Students must provide their name, e-mail address and 10-digit ID number to sign the form.\nThe organization's goal is 8,000 signatures after visiting the residence halls and Greek houses. The remaining 2,000 signatures will be obtained through miscellaneous ventures such as dorm dinner lines and basketball games.\nIf all 10,000 signatures are collected by the end of the semester, the group's goal will be complete. They will be placed on the Fall 2006 registration sheet alongside the Rape Crisis Fund, IU Dance Marathon and the Little 500. Each semester students will have the option to contribute after they have completed the registration process.\n"It's the best $7 anybody could spend," Bruno said.\nIU Habitat for Humanity expects to raise between $50,000 and $60,000 a year from the new funds, Bruno said.\n"That'll be one and a half houses a year," he said.\nBruno and his fellow members know the importance of spreading the word. \n"The substandard living conditions in Monroe County alone are much more prevalent than most people think," he said. "I think it's an issue that needs to be addressed."\nMembers of the organization are extremely excited about the campaign and what it could bring to the group and to the community.\n"You've been there from putting the base plates on the wall to the shingles on the roof. You really know you're doing something for your community and fellow man," Bruno said.\n"I honestly think that one of the best feelings anyone could experience are the feelings you are bombarded with when you help someone in need," Renkenberger said.\n--Contact Staff Writer Brad Keist at bkeist@indiana.edu.