Issue date: 4/30/07 Section: Campus News

Media Credit: Jennifer Hietpas (Left to right) Sophomore Meghann Beckwith and junior Hayley Hurlburt participated in the 24-hour teeter-totter event at the Campus Mall. Beckwith's shift was Friday night and Hurlb teeter-tottered on Saturday. Students involved in the event took one-hour shifts between noon Friday to noon Saturday.

Despite teeter-tottering for 24 hours straight, some UW-Eau Claire students said they weren't fazed.

"It's actually really fun," said junior Heather Mawhiney, a member of Alpha Xi Delta. "We talk to people who walk by. It's a gorgeous day out, so it's kind of nice. I just don't know how the girls did it at 3 a.m."

At the second annual "Teeter-Totter for Kids," all 36 members of the women's fraternity took one-hour shifts teeter-tottering in the Campus Mall. The teeter-totter didn't stop for a full 24 hours.-from noon Thursday to noon Friday.

The event was aimed at raising money to purchase new technology for Longfellow Elementary School, 500 Balcom St.

"Any way we can give to kids in the community is a good thing," said Mawhiney, whose shift ran from 9 to 10 a.m.

Fellow Alpha Xi Delta member, sophomore Katie O'Connor, agreed.

"It's a good way to give back to the community," she said. O'Connor teeter-tottered from 6 to 7 a.m. Friday.

Last year's event raised more than $3,000 for Longfellow Elementary School.

"People see us out here and they want to know why we're here," Mawhiney said. "It definitely brings attention."

Organizers gave funds from last year's event to install sound amplification software - which helps teachers eliminate background noise in classrooms - in kindergarten classrooms, said Longfellow's partnership coordinator Holly Larson.

"The teachers have microphones around their necks," Larson said. "It goes to speakers around the room. As a teacher, if you turn your back, a lot of times it's hard to hear. This takes care of that."

Larson said the elementary school hopes to someday have sound amplification software in all classrooms rather than only kindergarten classrooms.

In addition to "Teeter-Totter for Kids," Alpha Xi Delta finds other ways to help out at Longfellow Elementary School, junior Malarie Bump said. This year, the women also went door-to-door to gather donations for the school.

In conjunction with the Lighted Schoolhouse program, the women 'adopted' Longfellow and asked if they could raise money for it, Larson said, adding she eagerly agreed.

"They come truthfully pretty much whenever we ask, about once a month." Larson said, adding the group, which she said interacts well with the children, volunteered to help with a 5K run fundraiser for the school and a family dinner event, among other things.

"We think it's wonderful," Larson said. "It's huge. They're supportive, they're all my help. They're great rolemodels for our kids."

Those who missed "Teeter-Totter for Kids" can send donations to Longfellow Elementary School, 500 Balcom St.

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