Geopardy, Sleep-Out seek to inform campus

Acacia O'Connor Life Editor

Clue: It’s a game show sponsored by Hunger Action to promote awareness about how geography affects hunger. Answer: What is “Geopardy,” the Hunger Action Geography Bee?

On Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m. Hunger Action, Vassar’s chapter of the national Hunger Action Committee, will hold this event in Rockefeller Hall 200 to promote awareness of hunger and poverty.

Students will compete against one another for the grand geographic prize: a wall-sized lamenated map of North America. The Bee’s format will be similar to that of Jeopardy!, but the questions will focus on world hunger. Contestants will be allowed two wrong responses before they are eliminated from the game.

Snacks will be provided and groups such as Heffer and the One Program will give presentations between rounds. Donations will be collected and will benefit Dutchess Outreach, a local organization that helps meet the needs of the less fortunate.

“Hopefully it will get people more involved with community action on campus,” said Ezra Roth ’08, who organized the event. “We want it to act as a catalyst, to give people a wake up call.”

Hunger Action organizes many opportunities for students and community members to volunteer, such as weekly trips to the Poughkeepsie soup kitchen The Lunch Box. The group seeks to raise awareness in unique ways with events such as the Geography Bee and the Sleep Out for Homelessness.

The Sleep Out, a collaborative effort between Hunger Action, Habitat for Humanity, Class Issues Alliance and Operation Donation, seeks to blend information and fun. Participants will sleep in the open air on the quad on Nov. 2. There will also be a bonfire, s’mores-making and a Hootenany sing-a-long at 10:30 p.m.

Habitat for Humanity is asking students to sponsor the sleepers to raise money for the Windchill Fund, collected by Hudson River Housing to support Dutchess County homeless shelters. During the event, Habitat will also post signs with local statistics on homelessness along the quad path.

“Just having an event raises awareness that these issues are out there,” said Habitat for Humanity Co-President Torie Eels ’08. “By having the bonfire and by having the stats there, we hope people will get on board.”