The Longwood University community has taken part in the nationwide movement to aid those affected by the Monday, April 15 Boston Marathon bombings. Monday afternoon, three people died and more than 180 people at the Boston Marathon were injured as a result of the two bombs. As of press time, the suspects and the motivation behind the bombings were unknown.
Jake King, music director of WMLU, and Jeremy Ashby began collaborating on an idea to aid the victims and families of the bombings on Monday. The students, both Phi Mu Delta brothers, decided to host a benefit concert sponsored by campus radio station WMLU 91.3 FM and Phi Mu Delta. King and Ashby are in the process of reaching out to fraternities, sororities and other organizations that may be interested in helping with the cause.
King said that, so far, everyone has “been really excited to be part of it.”
“I think we need to be able to come together for a cause and this is why I kind of want this to be campus-wide ... ” King said.
The concert will take place on Tuesday, April 23 from 4-9 p.m. on the Lankford Student Union Patio. According to King, the bands performing will most likely be made up of Longwood students and possibly local talents as well.
In an effort to raise at least $1,000 for the American Red Cross, King said there will be opportunities for attendees to donate and take part in raffles.
As far as items that will be raffled off at the event, King said, “We really just want to extend that to the whole community, just anything anyone has that they would like to put forth to this cause.”
Regarding why he and Ashby felt it was important to aid those involved in the Boston bombings, King said, “I think we need to just come together as Longwood and show that, you know, we may not be the biggest school in the world, but we can make a big impact if we come together and kind of strengthen numbers.”
