Week-long event lets students live through new lens

[TSteven]

(Pi Kappa Phi - The University of Kentucky)

Week-long event lets students live through new lens
By Ashley Graves
Published: Monday, April 18, 2005
Kernel Press

This week - "No Boundaries Week" - UK students can learn firsthand what some disabilities can feel like by taking part in simulations.

The brothers of Pi Kappa Phi and Push America, their national philanthropy project, work daily with people with disabilities.

No Boundaries Week, one of the events sponsored by Pi Kappa Phi, is a three-day event starting tomorrow that focuses on issues concerning people with disabilities in an effort to raise awareness in the student body.

"Many people are uneducated about people with disabilities and their way of life," said Andrew Schuette, No Boundaries Week coordinator and Pi Kappa Phi member. "Taking part in the activities will bring a greater understanding and awareness while letting students experience first hand what it is like living with a disability."

During the three-day event, speakers will relate their personal stories and activities are scheduled to simulate disabilities to students.

Johnnie Tuitel is a motivational speaker with cerebral palsy coming to campus, sponsored by the Student Activities Board - an event that coincides with No Boundaries Week.

"SAB is very excited to be able to program with Pi Kappa Phi," said Megan Powell, director of quality control for SAB. "Johnnie Tuitel will help bring awareness to the needs of disabled people - especially on UK's campus - and help promote acceptance."

Tuitel also founded the nonprofit organization Alternatives in Motion, a charity driven to help those in need of a wheelchair.

"Hopefully bringing Tuitel to campus will enable changes to be made," said Ashley Hayden, director of campus life for SAB. "UK is striving to a top-20 university (status) and being more inclusive and aware; being diverse in students will accomplish that mission."

The challenges that will be held each day will ask students to simulate having a disability and try to enter a building on campus, shoot a basketball while being confined to a wheelchair and participate in a wheelchair slalom. Other activities at Patterson Office Tower plaza will include making a paper airplane and writing a note blindfolded to experience blindness, reading from a book backward from a mirror to illustrate dyslexia, and mouthing words from note cards to a friend to stimulate muteness.

Opening ceremonies will include speeches from Student Government President Rachel Watts and Michael Brent, a Pi Kappa Phi alumnus paralyzed from the neck down, and disability training conducted by Pi Kappa Phi.

On Wednesday, there will also be a dean's luncheon where the deans of the colleges on campus will learn of disabilities by simulating a disability during lunch.

White awareness bracelets, similar to Lance Armstrong's yellow Live Strong bracelets, will also be for sale for $2 at POT plaza - all proceeds will go to Push America. Greek organizations have been challenged to purchase the most bracelets. The winner of the challenge will receive $150 to go to its respective philanthropy.

"I can't believe how far this week has come," Schuette said. "So many people have rallied around such an important cause."

[TSteven]

(Pi Kappa Phi - The University of Kentucky)

UK student pedals to Florida for charity
By James Goatley
Published: Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Kernel Press

Two members of Pi Kappa Phi will travel this summer to participate in programs that will help benefit the lives of disabled people.

The undergraduate and alumni members of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity have a chance to participate in events for their own national philanthropy, "Push America."

Pi Kappa Phi is the only national college fraternity to create and maintain its own national philanthropy.

On May 12, Andrew Schuette, a communications disorder sophomore and a member of the fraternity, along with 35 other Pi Kappa Phi members from various universities, will cycle through Florida to raise awareness for disabled individuals on a two-week 800-mile cycling trip.

Nick Blair, a kinesiology and health promotions senior and fellow Eta Tau chapter member, will travel across the country to six cities beginning June 30 to assist in building summer camps for individuals with disabilities.

Schuette is participating in "Gear Up Florida," an event that raises money and awareness for people faced with disabilities. Each individual that participates in the bicycling trip will raise $1,800.

The program is limited to 40 cyclists each year.

During the journey through Florida, the cyclist will have an hour and a half with the children in each city. They will join the children for a meal and interact with them for a while.

"I made a goal for myself - that I would do every "Push America" program offered to me," said Schuette.

The time and effort that Schuette puts into working with disabled children is a mutual benefit.

"This trip is going to provide me with more of an understanding for people with disabilities," said Schuette. "I will have the opportunity to build the quick relationship instead of having more time like it was at the camps during 'Build America.' "

"Build America" is a six-week program that takes place during the summer where members of Pi Kappa Phi, including Blair, spend their breaks constructing facilities at six camps that serve disabled individuals across the country, raising $3,500.

Over the course of their trip, the crew will assemble accessible fishing piers, nature trails, climbing walls and picnic tables.

"I enjoy more hands-on types of activities and working with the kids," said Blair.

The summer service opportunity also provides team members the opportunity to interact with the campers personally every day.

Working with the children has provided Blair with more than just service hours; he has a true passion for working with the disabled.

"The kids grab your heart, and they don't even know it when you work with them," said Blair.

Blair has discovered his career of choice in working with "Push America." He will graduate from UK next year and plans to go to graduate school to receive a degree in occupational therapy.

"It is a way for me to pay back 'Push' (America) for all it has given to me, Blair said.

"Nothing makes me happier than to work with them."

"I have found something that has changed my life," said Schuette.

~Gear Up Florida

For more information or to contribute, contact Nick Blair at pkphurleyht@yahoo.com