The WQKE 93.9 FM, The Quake, Plattsburgh State’s student run radio station will host its 14th annual Starvathon from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday in front of the ACC.
PSUC students will be able to play various games to donate cans and money to the Plattsburgh Innerfaith Food Shelf.
WQKE president and senior audio video production major and digital media minor Natalie Gramegna said Starvathon is to help feed members of the Plattsburgh community.
“They help people who cannot get their own food, and it’s really for the people of Plattsburgh to help students get involved and give back to the community,” she said.
Gramegna said they’re trying to raise as much as they can because it’s going on their 14th year of the event.
The goal for the Quake is to raise 939 cans because it matches their frequency of 93.9 FM. Additionally, to raise cans, the Quake is hosting the Battle of the Cans.
The Battle of the Cans is a competition for PSUC clubs, organizations, Greek life and athletics. Whichever organization raises the most cans will get a trophy as well as a Buffalo Wild Wings gift card.
Students will have a variety of activities to choose from at Starvathon, including its popular Pie a DJ event, where students can donate a can or cash to pie any DJ associated with the Quake.
“Pie a DJ is one of our oldest traditions at Starvathon. We have this big plywood painted board with holes in it, and you get to pie a DJ with shaving cream,” Gramegna said. “It’s a lot of fun. It’s really messy, but it’s just really cool that we can get together and be collaborative in that way.”
WQKE program director and junior TV video production and audio video production double major Jack Moore said the Pie a DJ event is fun for both participants and as a member of the Quake.
“It’s super quirky. We usually have a consistent DJ that takes one for the team and gets pied consistently,” he said. “Not everybody likes to get pied, but the ones who do really take it like full force, and it’s fun to watch.”
Moore said they are also going to have raffles and gift cards to give out during the event. Those who donate a can or cash can enter a raffle for various prizes. He said students can enter a contest while donating for a good cause at the same time.
There will also be lawn games, as well as the radio being broadcasted live all day. Gramegna said people will be able to spin a wheel, play cornhole and that Burgy will also be there to keep the morale up.
Moore said the Starvathon event is really what made him involved with the radio station in the first place. He said that when he went to the event as a freshman, it was freezing outside, but he ended up staying the full eight hours because he had really clicked with the WQKE members.
“I realized just how much of a family the Quake kind of was,” he said. “And then they adopted me as their little brother.”
He said since then, he’s been involved with the event. He said it’s for a great cause and the PSUC campus gets to give back to the community.
Junior psychology major and minor in women’s health and human family relations and secretary of WQKE Katie Breslin said she’s also excited to see the different alumni participate.
“People can come and see the alumni, and it’s cool because you get to see your roots and how far you’ve come and the new people who are joining,” she said. “It’s almost like a celebration for the Quake too, but we’re also raising money to get cans and donations the food pantry.”
Breslin said she’s looking forward to seeing the music blasting throughout the plaza to get student attention. This will be her third year participating in the event.
“We’re lucky enough to host it during homecoming weekend, so we’ll get a lot of alumni and lot of community members as well,” Gramegna said.
Gramegna encourages people to attend the event even if it’s for a few minutes. She said it’s a great way to get involved in a cause that gives back to others as well.
“It’s a way for people to give to something they might need one day,” she said. “Who knows what will happen, but the food shelf is there for everybody.”
Email Kavita Singh at fuse@cardinalpointsonline.com
