 "Photo: Audrey Hamoy")
Students had the opportunity Thursday to relieve their stress by hitting a Chevrolet Camaro with a sledgehammer.
This unique opportunity was created by Marshall University's student radio station, 88.1 WMUL-FM. The car bash fundraiser has been held each year before homecoming since 2004.
For a donation of $2, those participating were given the chance to hit the Camaro for as long as they wanted. The car was painted black and gold to symbolize The University of Central Florida, which Marshall will face Saturday in the homecoming football game.
Meagan Sellards, WMUL station manager, views the fundraiser as an outlet of stress for students.
"It's a great fundraiser because it gave students a chance to take out their aggression on something other than class or school," Sellards said. "It's a good way for students to come out and have fun and get excited for the game. There are opportunities here for stress relievers."
All funds raised benefit the station, Sellards said.
The car bash garnered a large amount of attention from students.
"It's for a good cause. I just wanted to hit something. Look at the hood and that should explain it," said Wesley Jordan, sophomore history major from Charleston.
Joshua Johnson, freshman from Denver, said the car bash caught his eye while walking on campus.
"I saw something interesting and I went to check it out," Johnson said. "It's an opportunity to beat up on a Chevy. I drive a Ford."
Each year cars have been donated to the event, said Marshall University alumnus Eddie Williams.
While he was a student, Williams was a volunteer at WMUL. Williams shared the idea for the fundraiser to WMUL five years ago. He got the inspiration from a high school in his hometown.
"I thought it would work for a college, too," Williams said. "I pitched the idea and everyone loved it. It's been a hit ever since."
Williams has been responsible for finding car donors each year.
While the cars undergo a lot of damage, Williams said the car that suffered the most damage was a Ford Escort station wagon in 2006.
"The Ford Escort station wagon was highly destroyed. It was the smallest car we've ever had."
Once the car bash is over, volunteers and members of WMUL prepare and decorate the car for the homecoming parade.
Whitney Thomas, senior English education major from Wheeling, is WMUL's traffic director. Thomas said people always take photographs of the damaged cars.
"It's the junkiest looking float of them all, but it gets people's attention."
Ashley Busz can be contacted at busz@marshall.edu.
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