Austin Dowd
The Brickyard sounded like a three-ring circus Wednesday afternoon as student groups and vendors competed for attention from students rushing between classes. In one corner of the brickyard, two big, painted pieces of plywood back-dropped a group of students looking for money. The brothers of Delta Upsilon were scattered across the Brickyard calling out to passers-by like fairway game masters.\
“One dollar, one balloon. Throw a water balloon at frat boys,” Andrew Wright, a senior in political science and fellow brother, said to passing students.
The brothers were raising money for the Boys and Girls Club of Raleigh by holding a duck hunt. Volunteers stood in front of students taking on a barrage of water balloons that students bought for a dollar.
The yelling brothers and bright colors of the backdrop pulled students to the game. “We were just walking by and we’re girls so the bright colors appealed to us,” Heather Winkler, a sophomore in biological sciences, said. “[Also] we worked with the Boys and Girls Club in high school,” Richelle Bangi, a sophomore in biological sciences, said.
The bright yellow duck suit worn by the targets aided in drawing participants.
“Well there’s a lot of stuff going on in the Brickyard today, and I just saw a guy in a yellow rain coat,” Larry Durgin, a sophomore in history, said after pegging a brother in the suit.
The brothers did not set a goal for donations as this was their first year with the event and they thought the cold weather might deter participation. They ended up raising $450 for the Boys and Girls Club.
“For what I’ve planned out, it’s been successful,” Jordan Childress, a freshman in biological sciences and the coordinator for duck hunt, said. “I’ve been planning this since January.”
The brothers were able to get donations from students scurrying between classes who would throw a balloon on the way to their next destination. Occasionally a student would pay for multiple balloons, increasing their odds for a hit and a free T-shirt.
“I missed the first [throw], so I threw the second just to give another dollar,” Bethany Hunt, a sophomore in biological sciences, said.
The brothers of Farmhouse Fraternity donated $100 for a chance to bombard Dan Frezza, the Inter-Fraternity Council’s advisor, and Chris Mangieri, a junior in biological sciences.
“It’s ’cause we like you so much,” Grant Culp, a senior in Natural Resources Management, said.
“I just accepted a job at ECU, that’s another reason I got thrown at,” Frezza said.
Mangieri was able to avoid a majority of the balloons the Farmhouse brothers threw, unlike Frezza who took quite a beating.
“He has a little more worth and girth, and I think they were aiming for him. Plus I’m in better shape,” Mangieri said.
“You guys have really brought new meaning to brotherhood,” Mike Giancola, the first volunteer of the day, said.
“Hit him in the face,” Giancola yelled, mimicking the calls that brothers made to passing students.