As many of you are aware, a particular sensation has swept the internet that involves dumping a freezing cold bucket of water over your head. But have you seen one with an associate dean wearing a duck floatie?
Well now you can, because the College of Pharmacy did the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. They accepted the challenge after the University of Findlay College challenged them.
The event was held on the east side of the building where students, faculty, and staff huddled before being hosed down by water from a fire truck. The students were told they would be doing the challenge to help raise awareness, and there was even a donation box at the event so they could raise money as well.
The pharmacy professors were in the front in white lab coats, and some of the students even had umbrellas with them. A first year pharmacy student, Arianna Sanchez, said the water even got people who didn’t want to get wet.
“If you were there, you basically got soaking wet. It was a great way to get recognition [for ALS],” says Sanchez.
In the video that was taken of the event, which can also be found on ONU’s pharmacy Facebook page, the Dean of the College of Pharmacy Steve Martin challenged the Ohio Pharmacists Association. It seems they have not responded yet, so they are probably thinking of a way to top this challenge.
For some of the students and faculty, or even maybe the reader of this article, ALS may hit home. They may know someone who has been diagnosed with ALS and want to do whatever they can to help. It is a very rare disease but it is still an unshakeable one. The few people who have it are often unable to live longer than a few years after being diagnosed.
The College of Pharmacy most likely did this challenge because they hope that their students would help with the research of this disease, given the chance. Maybe they will be a part of the group that finds the cure.