Trinitarian Tries Green Fundraiser

STUDENTS DROP THEIR PHONES AT THE LEW CENTER - Linda Caselletto

The Trinitarian is thinking green to save some green. The Trinity International University (TIU) Yearbook is working to eliminate a necessary deficit incurred by an extension of production, and to update technology with the Phoneraiser.

This fundraiser works by student donation of used cell phones and inkjet cartridges, which can be recycled, in accordance to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, or refurbished and reused.

“With Christmas coming up, there is a good chance that new cell phones will be in people's stockings,” said yearbook advisor Linda Casalletto. “This is an opportunity to get rid of the old cell phone properly and benefit Trinity at the same time.”

And around this time of year, black inkjet cartridges may be sitting idle and empty in student printers. Professors have complained about brown and blue ink used for final papers.

The donation of used cell phones and empty inkjet cartridges will not only support the Trinitarian, but it will benefit the environment by a reduction of toxic waste.

If improperly disposed of, one cell phone can pollute up to 132,000 liters of drinking water, said Phoneraiser.

Upgrade promotions by cell phone providers, such as Verizon Wireless, are becoming more frequent and accessible to users. Verizon customers who upgrade their cell phones are required to trade-in their used device, which is sent to a company warehouse that recycles or refurbishes it for reuse.

This money-saving strategy by wireless companies could be detrimental to the success of the Phoneraiser, but beneficial to the environment.

Students can drop off their donations at the Lew Center Information Desk and other marked locations in residence halls. Cell phone donations are tax deductible and receipts can be made out to students who include their Trinity mailbox number when submitting their properly working used phones. Phone chargers and accessories will not be collected.

A TIU broadcast email, not yet scheduled for distribution, will explain further details of the Phoneraiser that have not yet been arranged.

Alumni Win Dodgeball Tournament

A group of Trinity International University (TIU) alumni by the team name “Balstin” split $300 Sunday after winning the annual Dodgeball Tournament, hosted by Student Government Association (SGA).

“I don’t care about the money – I just want to win,” said competitor Heidi Ebersole of “Getting’ After It.” Ebersole’s team had the manpower to go all the way, but took third after eliminated by “Balstin” in two different overtimes of single-player face-offs.

The SGA event drew 23 teams, with names like “Slippery Gerbils,” “Ball in the Face,” and “Not Creative Enough.” Over 150 spectators, largely made up of teams waiting to take the court or already eliminated, dwindled over the course of the three hours it took for the tournament to expire.

The tournament was played round robin and single-elimination style. A match was won by best of three games. Trinity Intramurals appropriately documented rules for the game, but competitors voiced their frequent disagreements with calls made by referees.

“Bogus! Bogus! Bogus!” shouted a player in disgust to his cheating opposition. Several players took advantage of missed calls and remained inside the volleyball-sized court despite knowing they had legitimately been knocked out. The biggest discrepancy, mostly a misunderstanding, concerned the definition of a “live” ball.

According to the official TIU Dodgeball Tournament Handbook, a live ball is a ball that has been thrown and has not touched anything, including the floor/ground, another ball, another player, official or other item outside of the playing field. It was often difficult to see if a ball had skimmed anther ball before hitting a target.

The key for success was speed and accuracy of throw and agility of body. The ideal dodgeball athlete would have the arm of a baseball player, the accuracy of a pitcher, and the agility of a football player.

Football senior Cole Goodenow showcased his skill as he impressively dropped and rolled to duck a live ball, and soccer junior Natalie Zierten displayed alertness as she jumped in what looked like a mid-air quasi-double toe-touch to escape a live ball, and ultimately both their eliminations. Zierten’s team, Dodge This, lost in the final and took second place, a repeat from last year’s tournament.

Teams played with a minimum of two girls, who weren’t too detrimental to the team if they were bad – nor too beneficial to the team if they were good. Few females had much of an arm, so the strategy became catching her ball instead of throwing her out. To win a match, a team relied on at least one male sniper.

For “Balstin” that sniper was an anonymous alumnus. Soccer senior Megan Pelland was the solo girl for the champion alumni, who played one man down. Pelland earned $50 for her performance and plans to save it for her wedding this summer.

The next college activity on the calendar requires a little less brawn and a little more grace. College Union has organized transportation for Ice Skating at Millenium Park tomorrow Saturday. There is no cash prize for top skater.