While some Ball State University students used cold drinks or shady trees to cool off Sunday afternoon, Delta Zeta sorority members and other students thought using a pool of green Jell-O would be better.
The sorority used 100 gallons of gelatin for their annual Turtle Tugs event, where students competed in six-person teams in a tug-of-war tournament. Teams used a rope to pull the other side into a pool of Jell-O, and whatever team remained standing won the round.
Delta Zeta member Veronica Corona said Sigma Chi fraternity and Alpha Phi sorority won the event.
Overall, 17 teams competed with more than 30 people watching, Olivia Tapley, Delta Zeta member said. The money raised will benefit the Painted Turtle Camp, a summer camp in California for mentally disabled children, Tapley said. The amount raised will be totaled later this week, she said.
The warm, sunny weather attracted more people than last year, Tapley said. She said anything is better than the cold wind and sleet that plagued the event last year, and this year's weather didn't disappoint her.
"Everyone had a lot of fun because of how nice it was to be outside," Tapley said. "The event was also entertaining."
The economy made it difficult to raise money this year, Tapley said, although it didn't stop her from sending out letters to more than 50 businesses asking for donations.
She said Noodles and Company, among others, was great at making sure the event had everything it needed.
"I've been planning this event since before last semester," Tapley said. "There hasn't been a day where I haven't thought about it."
Corona, the announcer at the event, said the Indiana University Little 500 always falls on the same weekend as Turtle Tugs, despite their best efforts to plan around the bike race.
"I think a lot of the Ball State greek community goes to [Little 500]," Corona said. "I want to see our attendance when we don't compete with [the race]."
Corona said she would remember everyone's motivation and spirit this year, considering many contestants were dressed in costumes and capes.
She said her position behind the megaphone did not save her from the Jell-O pool.
"A team of guys picked me up, took my megaphone, and tossed me in," Corona said. "I was soaked from head to toe."
Looking back on the event, Corona said she was happy to see the greek community come together for a great cause.
"Even if they don't know the impact they're making, they really are helping a bunch of children," she said.
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