The events of Starvation Gulch welcome returning and new students to school with the lighting of several large bonfires. This year, Starvation Gulch will also feature a donation to help hurricane survivors.

Relief funds in the wake of Hurricane Katrina are popping up in cities across the country and Fairbanks is no different. Donations are being collected now all over campus, and this year's Starvation Gulch festivities will begin with the presentation of an oversized cardboard check to the American Red Cross.

"We want to show continued support from UAF," said Brandon Ilgen. "A sign of solidarity." Ilgen is the Volunteer Program Assistant for the UAF Student Leadership Program and is coordinating volunteer efforts here on campus with those of the Red Cross.

Currently the Leadership Program is collecting donations in the main lobby of the Wood Center. Those who donate will be able to put their name or a note onto a golden heart. These hearts are being placed on the large heart shaped mural in the Wood Center lobby. When the heart is full it will be shipped to one of the hurricane survivor shelters.

With a donation of $5 or more you will receive a set of Mardi Gras beads in keeping with the spirit of New Orleans.

Danielle Ryder, who works with the Leadership Program, was at The Pump House restaurant when a Louisiana man noticed her beads. "He appreciated the support since he no longer has a home to return to," Ryder said. Tradition may dictate what you do with your beads but all the funds from the proceeds will be added to the hurricane relief fund.

Wearing her own set of beads, Leadership Program Director JJ Boggs, said this was not the only volunteer program in the works. "We've been tossing around the idea of an alternate spring break." If the program is implemented, "students will be traveling down for a week of volunteer service," said Boggs. Boggs said students who go would probably be working with Habitat for Humanity.

To help with the donations for the hurricane relief is a little comic relief. Friday, Sept. 30, kicks off the start of the Bust-A-Gut Comedy Series at the Salisbury Theatre. The show will feature comedians Joy Gobring, Bernadette Pauley, and Rachel Feinstein. Tickets will be on sale for $10 a student and $15 for general admission. 100 percent of ticket sales will be donated to the relief efforts.

Prices have gone up from their usual $5 per student for a campus show but it is for a good reason. Student Activities Coordinator, Jeff Stepp, explained that the Starvation Gulch planning committee "wanted to make a significant contribution from UAF to the relief effort."

To help make their goal of $10,000 a reality, the planning committee moved the comedy show from the Hess Rec Center to its current venue at the Salisbury Theatre. Stepp said they are working hard to sell out the show. "The comedians are all on standby incase we need to do another show at 9." He hopes it happens and recommends everyone to come early.

Donations to the hurricane relief efforts will continue on through and beyond Starvation Gulch weekend. UAF's contribution may only be a little extra fuel to the fire but we do it to "keep the momentum going in Fairbanks and on campus." said Stepp.

The Freshmen Bonfire, or Starvation Gulch as it is now called, is one of the oldest traditions at UAF. The tradition of building a 50 to 60-foot high bonfire was started by President Bunnell in 1923 when UAF was still called the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines. Signaling a new year, and "symbolizing the passing of the torch of knowledge," writes Dr. Terrance Cole. The Freshman Bonfire, or as the students called it, the "bonfire weenie roast," was established.

This year there will be seven enthusiastic student groups using common sense, twine, and luck to put together structures of all sorts. The groups involved in building structures are the EDGE program, the Gay Club, the Student Firefighters Association, Greek Council, a Lathrop and Stevens Hall combo team, the Honors Program, and Orientation leaders.

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