The weather prediction for Tuesday in Michigan is a low of 78 degrees, with a high of 88, mostly sunny and just a light breeze coming in from the north. Just kidding. It’s going to be freezing, and yet, members of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity are still going to jump into the lake outside Eastern Michigan University’s Big Bob’s Lake House. Yes folks, it’s the Polar Plunge ’13.
Delta Sigma Phi will be hosting and participating in the Plunge for the second year in a row.
According to Joseph Stinson, EMU junior and graphic communication major, there is an estimated 20-30 people participating.
“For anyone jumping in, or attending the event, dress warm and eat a healthy, well-balanced meal before the dive,” Stinson said. “That cold water can cause hypothermia, and the best way to counteract that is to be proactive.”
The whole purpose of the dive is to raise money to donate to the American Red Cross.
“It’s a very bold thing to do,” Stinson said. “We hope that the campus will understand the sincerity of our purpose as we set standards and values for our community.”
Making an event like the Polar Plunge come to life is no easy task. In trying to help the community, Stinson admits that he and his brothers put in a lot of work.
“The hardest part was the organization and communication,” he said. “There are a lot of moving parts and behind the scenes work to make this event possible.”
Stinson said he hopes all the hard work will have a positive outcome.
“Delta Sigma Phi is hoping to not only raise money for our philanthropy, The American Red Cross, but to show the community how serious we are when it comes to charity,” Stinson said. “We like to think big; we think like Delta Sig.”