You may not know this but two of Creighton’s biggest rivals in the Big East Conference, Marquette and St. John’s, also have birds mascots. But the real question is which bird can soar above all the others?
The Battle of the Beaks is a giving participation competition between the respective schools and their undergraduate students and alumni. The university with the highest participation of alumni and student giving between Feb. 19 and the beginning of the Big East Tournament, March 12, wins.
“Creighton helped spearhead this effort because we wanted to use the excitement surrounding the Men’s Basketball team’s success and the move to the Big East Conference to shed light on the importance of alumni and students giving back to the University,” said Mass Solicitation Manager and Strategist for the Creighton Fund, Bree Peterson.
All of the donated money will be brought back to students through the Creighton Fund, Creighton’s annual fund that supports student scholarships and financial aid.
Students are able to participate in Battle of the Beaks by visiting CSU Program Board’s Wednesdays After Class on Feb. 26 and March. 5 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and donating to the cause while they receive a giveaway.
The Student Philanthropy Committee will also be in the dining halls and the Skutt Student Center throughout the coming week so students are able to stop by and donate to the Creighton Fund at their convenience.
“This competition is about more than raising money; it’s about showing the Big East a small school from the Midwest is fit to compete with them,” said a statement released by the Student Philanthropy Committee Executives. “We all know our Men’s Basketball Team has already proven it, but we want to beat them off the court as well.”
Morgan Eiden, a College of Arts & Sciences sophomore and member of the Student Philanthropy Committee, says that there are many reasons to participate in Battle of the Beaks.
“Giving during this challenge is a way for you to contribute something without breaking the bank because the winner is determined based on the percentage of people giving, not the amount we have,” said Eiden. “A little goes a long way, the higher percentage of students we have giving back to the school makes us eligible for grants and awards that maintain the integrity of your degree as a Creighton graduate. The tuition you’re paying doesn’t cover the full cost of attendance; the Creighton Fund picks up the extra slack for everyone at the end of the year
The winner will be announced before the Men’s Big East Basketball Tournament beginning March 12. More information and a progress tracker are available at battleofthebeaks.org.