The Psychology Club of the Pleasantville Campus along with the Honors College is partnering up with the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to spread awareness and collect donations for suicide prevention organizations. The club has organized for a walk to be held on Saturday April 17, 2021 on Alumni Lawn. In addition, Gottesman has been booked as a back-up plan  for any weather issues that may occur.

The arrival times will be determined by the registered team captain’s or an individual’s last name; last names from A-F will start at 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; G-O from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.; and G-Z from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Anyone can register  for the event and either create a new team or join an existing one. If one is unable to attend, they can donate to the AFSP website. The secretary of the Psychology Club, Ashley Schlemmer, says that despite the challenge in planning the event amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the club is looking forward to a successful event.

“We are planning a modified walk, meaning that people will be released in socially distanced groups based on team membership rather than walking with all of campus at once,” Schlemmer said. “We have also made sure to organize food in the most sanitary way possible, having pre-packaged items only.”

The club also plans to utilize multiple spaces across campus so that they will be able to still host each of the traditional ceremonies, but at decreased capacities to accommodate social distancing.

This isn’t the first time, The Psychology Club is putting on an in-person event amidst the pandemic. During the fall semester, the Psychology Club collaborated with other clubs and organizations like the Office of Multicultural Affairs to our on a DJ Henry 48 Hours Episode Showing during Social Justice Week.

“We are excited to get more involved with this AFSP Walk this year! We hope to advertise to the student body through flyers, social media campaigns, and word of mouth,” said Schlemmer.

Psychology Club has been reaching out to every club and organization on campus to gain more support for the walk and aims for a goal of $9,000 towards AFSP by the day of the walk.  There are incentives  for individual fundraising only, such as an AFSP Tote if $50 is raised by April 5 or a Walk Shirt if $100 is raised by April 17. Awareness can be spread on any social media outlet by using the hashtags “#HopeWalksHere” and “#OutoftheDarkness.”

“I think this walk in particular will be great for the Honors College to start becoming more involved with all of campus,” said Schlemmer.