Today, students will have the opportunity to strip on campus-for a good cause.
The Stop, Drop & Dash charity run will be hosted as a part of Homecoming Week, in which students can choose to either donate $10 or forfeit articles of clothing to partake in the run. At the start of the race, participants will "drop" the clothes they want to donate and "dash" the mile course around Worthen Arena.
Registration begins at 2 p.m. on LaFollette field and the race at 3. Participants are required to wear at least the equivalent of a swimsuit to participate in the event. All proceeds and donated clothing will benefit Muncie Mission.
There will also be a costume contest to go along with the "Play Your Cards Right" theme for those that forgo running in minimal clothing in favor of donating money or clothing beforehand.
To encourage spirit, Ashley Points will be awarded to the group that donates the most clothing, and awards will given for race times and costumes.
Homecoming special events chairman Maggie Hamilton, who organized the event, said that while other campuses are successful with "Nearly Naked Mile" runs, the Homecoming Steering Committee chose to go for a more conservative name, "Stop, Drop & Dash" because of the event's charity focus.
According to Hamilton, she wanted to create an event that would benefit the community and involve all students on campus, not just those students affiliated with groups. Charity runs are not an annual part of Homecoming; the event is new this year.
"We wanted something that would give to underprivileged and Muncie mission was the first one that came to our mind," Hamilton said. "It's in the community and we wanted to show our appreciation for having Ball State in the community."
According to Muncie Mission public relations director Don Ford, Muncie Mission is a homeless-rescue outreach, with short-term and long-term recovery programs for local homeless. All clothing donated will either go to the general clothing bank, which is distributed to families in need, or sold in the Mission's resale shop Attic Window, the profits of which go directly to the Mission.
Ford said that Muncie Mission is appreciative of this event.
"We're very grateful that Homecoming Committee chose us to be the beneficiary and to participate in the event," Ford said. "We're running behind in food this year. Funds [collected] will be used to buy food."
Hamilton said that 40 students pre-registered and she is expecting around 100 students for the event, who will probably donate clothing.
"I'm hoping for a great turnout and a bunch of Homecoming spirit and people to enjoy the event," Hamilton said. "It might be an event that will stick and [we will] build upon next year. We want to get enough donations to make an impact for Muncie Mission and the community."
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