Students control the fate of several faculty members in the Alpha Kai Omega “Kiss a Pig” fundraiser starting on Thursday.
Students can place money in the jar of the faculty member they’d most like to see kiss a pig. The jars will be in the McGlothlin Campus Center from Thursday until Oct. 1. The money will be tallied, and the faculty member with most will have to pucker up with the barnyard animal on Oct. 2 in the campus mall area next to the GATA fountain.
The potential pig-kissers include Dr. Phil Schubert, president of the university; Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson, vice president and dean for Student Life; Dr. Richard Beck, chair of Department of Psychology; and Mark Lewis, assistant dean for Spiritual Life and Chapel programs in Student Life. Each faculty member will have their pictures displayed on the collection jars.
“We wanted to get people from all areas of campus to get involved, so we encouraged big names to volunteer,” said Alpha Kai Omega president Michelle Nix, senior family studies major from Austin.
Vice president of Alpha Kai Omega Vanessa Butler, senior art major from Longview, came up with the idea for this year’s fundraiser.
“The pledges host a fundraiser every year, so we thought we’d have a little more fun with it this year,” Butler said.
In addition to club funding, Alpha Kai Omega plans to donate a portion of the proceeds to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Club members accept all donations and hope to receive support from ACU students and faculty.
“Our main goal is to be more involved in the community, and it’s a great step towards that,” Butler said.
ACU Senior Vice President Emeritus Bob Hunter agrees.
“I hope students will continue the ACU experience of volunteering and learning to help others for the rest of their lives,” Hunter said.
After the money in each jar is tallied, and the winning faculty member is announced, Alpha Kai Omega officers plan to photograph and film the smooch.
Thompson is among the potential swine smoochers.
“I was the unfortunate one in a similar fundraiser at Grove City College and had to wear a full-body bunny costume all day around campus,” Jean-Noel Thompson said. “Not sure what it’s like kissing a pig, yet hope I don’t get the chance to find out.”
