The combination of intense dodgeball games, two live DJ sets, excited students and free food proved to be an energetic scene at Columbia’s new gymnasium, 1212 S. Plymouth Court, during a fundraising event for charity. This isn’t normally what one would picture when thinking about a children’s charity event, but it was unquestionably in the spirit the college is known for.

Columbia students hosted a dodgeball tournament benefiting the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center on Dec. 8 from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the campus’ newest addition, the gymnasium of the South Loop Elementary School. The gym is shared between Columbia and Roosevelt University.

The participants in the tournament,  which comprised Columbia and Roosevelt students, were asked to gather a team of six to eight players, establish a captain and come up with a team name. The students of the Events, Concert and Festival: Production Management class at Columbia came up with the idea in September and had been planning the event throughout the semester.

Mecca Perry, faculty member in the Arts, Entertainment and Media Management Department, said that the class’ purpose is to be able to put together similar events which will be applicable to their future careers.

“Within a class, they learn how to put on a live event—any particular event that is live that has a music element to it,” Perry said. “They learn everything from program operations, sponsorship and marketing to the main concept, which is working in teams.”

The class had been broken into two sections, one of the events being Columbia’s Next to Blow, a talent showcase and beat battle that was held last week. The class promoted the events through various outlets of advertisement—mainly paper fliers, Facebook and word of mouth.  Perry added that the college is sharing the gym with neighboring Roosevelt, so their students were also permitted to participate in the dodgeball event.

Brad Wessel and John Venables, both sports management majors and team members of Murderers Row, discovered the event through a Facebook invite from mutual friends. They said they decided to participate because they like dodgeball and they also liked the idea of it being a charity event.

“It seemed like a good time,” Wessel said. “There’s nothing wrong with getting a couple buddies together to play some dodgeball.”

“Murderers Row isn’t gonna go down easily,” Venables joked.

Becky Lawrence, junior sports management major, said there were a number of elements that went into planning the event.

“We decided as a class that we should do a sporting event because there never had been one in Events class,” Lawrence said. “We came up with the idea of dodgeball and then went from there. Everyone contributed to the event, whether it was promotion, figuring out the table and chair situations or the food. Everyone had a part.”

Just before the teams battled it out for charity, the tournament commenced with the singing of the national anthem by Lindsey Adams, a local Chicago vocalist.

Ten teams of six to eight players participated, which, according to Lawrence, was more than they had initially expected when planning the event. She added that the donations will be coming in just in time for the holidays.

“The Chicago Children’s Advocacy has a Christmas party next week, so it’ll work out perfectly so they can buy gifts for the kids,” she said.

Throughout the event, free giveaways of items, including coupons to local eateries, gift cards and mugs, took place as live music by Columbia alumni Ghosthouse DJs, Jimmy Con and A.D.D, resonated in the background.

As the teams battled it out for charity, the winning team was Columbia’s own, The Ninjas. The event concluded with an aftershow by Mathletes, a powerpop band whose members include current Columbia students and alumni.

Lawrence added that although she had never done an event like this, she was excited that the turnout was as large as it was.

“It was the first time I’ve put together an event like this,” Lawrence said. “But it’s what I want to do, so it’s stressful but really rewarding that people showed up and everything worked out.”

Throughout the event, free giveaways of items, including coupons to local eateries, gift cards and mugs, took place as live music by Columbia alumni Ghosthouse DJs, Jimmy Con and A.D.D, resonated in the background.

As the teams battled it out for charity, the winning team was Columbia’s own, The Ninjas. The event concluded with an aftershow by Mathletes, a powerpop band whose members include current Columbia students and alumni.

Lawrence added that although she had never done an event like this, she was excited that the turnout was as large as it was.

“It was the first time I’ve put together an event like this,” Lawrence said. “But it’s what I want to do, so it’s stressful but really rewarding that people showed up and everything worked out.”