October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and Georgia State’s Student Government Association (SGA) President Pro Tempore Nicholas Smith wants to help raise awareness by holding a flash mob. Legislation to start this flash mob initiative was tabled until SGA’s Oct. 22 senate meeting.
The flash mob resolution was placed in the hands of a committee until the next Senate Meeting. SGA Head Senator of Arts and Sciences Justin Brightharp motioned for tabling the issue, citing logistics and university involvement as his main reasons.
“There are a lot of questions that involve the university, so it’s better to have a report from the university before we move forward,” Brightharp said. It’s logistics; how’s this gonna go down, and who’s gonna be involved in it.”
Smith introduced the flash mob resolution on Oct. 8. The resolution includes SGA hosting a flash mob to promote breast cancer awareness, and encouraging students and school officials to participate and help promote the event.
Smith said the flash mob would be primarily for students to increase the participation of student organizations. The flash mob would be held in a designated location on campus, preferably during Plaza Day near Oct. 31.
Campus Broadcasts would announce the event and one SGA flash mob event would be held during a Plaza Day in the gym for one hour if approved, according to Smith.
Smith cited the ALS ice bucket challenge as inspiration.
“I saw the ALS challenge as a big movement, and I thought the flash mob could help bring cancer awareness to light,” he said.
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge began the summer of 2014 to promote awareness and encourage donations for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. Over 17 million people took the challenge, according to The ALS Association.
Smith described flash mobs “as the reverse of musical chairs,” and wants to challenge other collegiate institutions to follow Georgia State’s flash mob example.
“There’s a set song, set location and when the key part of the song comes on, everyone gets to go crazy,” he said.
Smith also said the flash mob is a free event, and people can bring their own props.
No campus organizations have been contacted yet, but Smith hopes to reach at least 250 participants.
“With the campus broadcast, we’re hoping to reach a lot of students and administrators,” he said. “After the campus broadcast, 250 is nothing, especially when the event means something to people.”
Smith said he talked it over with other senators who were in agreement the initiative is a good idea.
“So far, [senators] all for it, and it’s not something too complex to take on since it’s hard for student organizations to take on big issues like [cancer awareness],” he said.
Mahze McQueen, a Georgia State freshman, said he thinks the flash mob is a good idea and is considering participating. He also believes cancer awareness could also be promoted with a parade.
“Maybe have a group of people walk around campus yelling out, to get people’s attention in support of different causes,” he said.
Chapter President for Colleges Against Cancer (CAC) at Georgia State Charbel Aoun said the organization would be happy to join the SGA in helping to promote cancer awareness.
“I think the SGA initiative is a great opportunity to bring more awareness about cancer and at the same time be able to bring the campus closer on a common purpose and goal,” he said.
Smith said Georgia State’s student population can spread the flash mob idea.
“That’s the beauty of having such a diverse campus,” he said. “You never know who will participate.”
