CSUMB Sorority Celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness Week
Monica Guzman, Staff Reporter
monica_guzman@csumb.edu
April 14, 2008
The ladies of Sigma Theta Psi, one of CSU Monterey Bay’s (CSUMB) sororities, were seen lighting candles, Tuesday April 8, for the Luminaries display in the Main Quad promoting Breast Cancer awareness. This is one of the many activities the sorority has planned for the spring Breast Cancer Awareness week.
Being that breast cancer awareness is the sorority’s philanthropy explains Sigma Theta Psi’s heavy involvement with the topic, and why there is a second week of it in the school year. Human Communications fourth year and Sigma Theta Psi sister, Ashley Rodgers, stated, “Awareness is not just in October but everyday of our lives and that’s why we do this both in fall and spring.”
The week started off on Monday April 7 with a movie night showing episodes of “Sex and the City” where one of the characters goes through breast cancer. “The point of it was to show the reality of breast cancer and how it can happen to anyone,” said Rodgers.
After the Luminaries display guest speaker Jan Dunn, Director of the Breast Care Center in Monterey, stressed the importance of breast cancer awareness in building 18 at CSUMB. “We really want to promote early detection when the cancer is easiest to cure.” According to Dunn the reasoning for this is because early detection offers better treatment options.
Some statistics shared by Dunn is that: one in eight women will be diagnosed with evasive breast cancer at some time in their life. Four out of five women that have been diagnosed with breast cancer will survive, and that breast cancer rates have dropped because of early detection.
The Main event of the week is the Pretty in Pink Benefit Dance. The dance is going to be held Thursday April 10 at the Black Box Cabaret (BBC). “At the end of the week we always have a dance as a way to bring hope.” said CSUMB Alumni and Sigma Theta Psi sister Jackie Elliott.
The $3 admission fee for the dance will go to Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP) Breast Care Center and the American Cancer Society.
With all the donations that have come from the community the sorority is able to give as much as they can to the cause. Elliott and Rodgers along with the rest of the Sigmas hope CSUMB students show their support by attending the Pretty in Pink dance. “Remember to wear your pink.” says Elliott.
To learn more about breast cancer awareness you can visit:
Chomp.org
Feelyourboobies.com
Thinkbeforeyoupink.org
Ivoteforthecure.org