RAW event raises $900 to stop Canada seal hunt

More than 175 supporters of Revitalizing Animal Well-Being’s “Sealed with a Kiss” poured in and out of The Lodge at 101 E. Sixth St. on Friday night to dance, kiss and petition against Canada’s annual seal hunt.

RAW, a student-run animal rights organization, celebrated its second-annual kiss-a-thon with live music from DJ Phenom and Atlanta-based band La Chansons. The organizers decorated the room with red hearts and streamers that lined the walls and windows.

Attendee Brandon McHenry said the party was so boisterous it drew him in from the street.

“I was walking from the bars with a few friends, and we heard the music and saw people dancing in the window,” said McHenry, a senior. “When I came up the stairs, I saw the signs for ‘Sealed with a Kiss’ and a couple of people told me what it was about. Their cause seemed really good, and I saw some friends inside so I decided to go in.”

Volunteers for RAW, as well as members and supporters of OUT Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Student Union, sat at the door to sell raffle tickets and T-shirts, collect donations and spread the awareness of seal hunt in Canada.

Throughout the event, which lasted from 8 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday, volunteers were able to raise more than $900 and got 175 students to sign a petition against the seal hunt – both numbers up from last year’s event.

Courtney Wennerstrom, RAW co-president and co-founder, said this year’s “Sealed with a Kiss” was much more successful than last year’s.

“In addition to raising more money and getting more people involved, we were much more organized this time,” Wennerstrom said. “We realized that it takes a couple of times to get these things right, and this year we had a great band and great energy, so I’m really pleased with how it went.”

The band, which headlined after DJ Phenom at 11 p.m., was new to putting on a show. “Sealed with a Kiss” was La Chansons’ first performance together, and bass player Kyle Wehrend said it was a great experience.

“The energy was great from the crowd, and it was a good chance to get our name out and have a good time with our music,” said Wehrend, who was visiting Bloomington for the first time.

With the event behind them, Wennerstrom said RAW members are going to begin planning some new projects, including a possible poker tournament to raise money for animal rights. As for next year’s “Sealed with a Kiss,” Wennerstrom said her hope is to not have to have one.

“Our ultimate goal is to not need to raise money or awareness next year,” Wennerstrom said. “We’re really hoping that there just won’t be any hunt for us to fight against at all.”