Marie Jubert | The Duquesne Duke
The Duquesne football team was among the fall sports teams who participated in Breast Cancer Awarness Month. They wore pink socks and armbands during their game on Oct. 5.
The Duquesne University Athletic Department and Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) sorority joined forces for the month of October in order to promote breast cancer awareness. These Duke Out Cancer events occur annually on campus at numerous sporting events. Through these events, ZTA is able to raise money for its philanthropy, breast cancer awareness.
Elizabeth Campbell, the President of ZTA Sorority said that this is the fourth consecutive year in which Duke Out Cancer activities have taken place.
The relationship between the athletic department and ZTA (as well as Greek life in general) has always been a supportive partnership according to Campbell.
“Greek life and the athletic department try and support each other’s events. For example, the football team wears pink socks in support of breast cancer awareness month,” Campbell said.
According to Nicole Bucholtz, the Assistant Director of Marketing and Promotion for the Department of Athletics, the football game against West Liberty on Saturday, Oct. 5 was this month’s kickoff to Duke Out Cancer. Prior to the game, the football team and ZTA created signs and banners at Dinner with the Dukes in the NiteSpot. At the football game, ZTA sold pink balloons in honor of those who have been affected by breast cancer. During halftime, they released the balloons.
“We also offered portions of the ticket sales sold by ZTA sorority members to go back to their philanthropy,” Bucholtz said. “Kappa Epilson also joins us for the annual Duke Out Cancer football game to sell pink t-shirts.”
Women’s swimming, (Oct. 19), women’s volleyball, (“Dig Pink” Oct. 25) and women’s soccer, (Oct. 27) also participated in Duke Out Cancer.
“ZTA sold small pink rubber duckies for “Chuck-A-Duck” contests during breaks of these events- all of the money raised went to ZTA, while athletics donated the prizes,” Bucholtz said.
Campbell added that the rubber duckies were sold in the union as well throughout the month of October for $5 each. The Chuck-A-Duck contest took place on Oct. 29 and included a prayer service hosted by Father McCool.
Furthermore, during October ZTA sold breast cancer awareness key chains, lanyards and buttons.
Nicole Bucholtz added that this year Phi Delta Chi professional fraternity teamed up with the Athletics Department to launch a Prostate Cancer Awareness event on Oct. 27. The event kicked off their annual Movember campaign as well. According to her, this was a new partnership for the Athletics Department.
On Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. the final Duke Out Cancer event of the year will take place when the Duquesne women’s basketball team plays George Washington at the Palumbo Center. At this event, ZTA is planning on having a table with breast cancer awareness merchandise for sale, and there will be an additional Chuck-A-Duck contest.
