Running on empty

By Sam Fran Scavuzzo
Collegian Editor
September 26, 2007

A charitable event in honor of a deceased student was postponed Sept. 21 amid growing concern both inside and outside the La Salle community.

Named after Wilson “Willie” Maldonado, Jr., “Run for Willie” was organized so Maldonado's brother could attend a private Christian secondary school.

The junior ISBT major was killed in an accident while driving drunk Nov. 10, 2006.

The accident also claimed the life of Dontae Barnes, 34.

In a campus announcement posted Sept. 21, the day the event was to be held, University officials stated, “In response to points of view recently shared with the University by others, including members of the University community and of the other driver’s family, as well as representatives of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, we believe it is appropriate to postpone and consider restructuring the initiative,” until alternate points of view could be expressed by willing participants.

The announcement came one day after a meeting held by University administrators and event organizers in response to a letter published in Collegian by Tamia Robinson (“Not just Willie suffered” Sept. 19, p. 6), the mother of Barnes’ child.

In that letter, Robinson questioned the motives of the event’s organizers Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI), Delta Phi Epsilon and the La Salle football team.

“But I wonder if…[they] ever thought about the other victims of this tragic accident?” said Robinson.

A member of Barnes’ family contacted the Southeastern Pennsylvania office of MADD which then referred the party to the state.

A specialist for MADD became “outraged” with the proposed event and contacted the University, according to Pennsylvania MADD State Executive Director Rebecca Shaver.

“We strongly feel that the event was inappropriate,” Shaver said. “Although our heart goes out to Willie's family, MADD has always been the voice of the victim.”

Shaver did not discourage the Maldonados from going out and speaking about Willie's act. She also emphasized that the organization changed its name to reflect its disgust in the act of drunk driving more than the drunk drivers themselves.

Dean of Students Dr. Joseph Cicala discussed the rationale for the postponement. The decision was reached at a meeting held Sept. 20, “It was our belief that continuing the effort without sensitivity to the viewpoints that had been expressed that day, would most likely do more harm than good, and none of us wished to do any harm,” he said.

Cicala stated that Davis spoke to Assistant Vice President for University Communications and Marketing Joseph Donovan and expressed a view that the charity event would re-victimize Barnes’ family.

This view was also held by another MADD official Cicala spoke to.

“I believe [this effort], even as I understand and appreciate the MADD representatives’ expressed perspectives, was a well-intended one on the part of our student organizations,” Cicala said.

Prior to concerns raised last week, there was no indicator the event would be delayed. When asked why the University waited until then to make a decision, Cicala said, “There was no ‘wait.’ The decision was reached on [Sept. 20] in response to the concerns that had been expressed to us on that day.”

Maldonado's family was contacted by Cicala Sept. 21, after the event organizer, FIJI member Brian Arty, spoke with Wilson Maldonado, Sr. Sept. 20. “Mr. Maldonodo indicated to me that he understands MADD’s perspective, and is open to participating in the dialogue into which we will invite concerned parties to share perspectives about the intentions of our student organizations and ways in which all might move forward positively from this exchange of views,” Cicala said.

Wilson Maldonado, Sr. was not able to be contacted for this story.

“Run for Willie” was developed by Arty, a senior communication major, in order for Christian Maldonado to attend Paramus Catholic High School.

The event planned for teams of two FIJI members to carry the game ball from the Philadelphia Museum of Art to McCarthy Stadium. There, the brothers would meet sisters of Delta Phi Epsilon and the Maldonado family.

Additionally, the event was meant to raise awareness of drunk driving. “We want to remind people of what happened to Willie based on one bad decision and how many people were impacted by it,” Arty said in a Sept. 12 Collegian article (“Football and Greeks “Run for Willie,” p.1). “We want to raise awareness and remind everyone, especially college students, that we are not invincible. We don't want anything like this to happen again.”

After the event was postponed, Arty said, “I am disappointed the event did not take place as scheduled, but am more motivated to make the fundraiser bigger and better for everyone. I don't know when or how that will happen right now, but I am optimistic that we can reach our goal and we are still focused on that goal.”

Other students held mixed opinions on the issue.

“I thought it was a good cause, I can understand where [Robinson] was coming from,” senior accounting major Joe Heavey said. “I don't think the cause of death should have affected the event.”

Senior secondary education major Kristen Cann offered a different opinion. “I think it was an appropriate decision [to postpone the event].” Cann noted that after finding out that Robinson went to La Salle she thought “a sensitivity factor was missing.”

Director of Athletic Communications Kale Beers said, “We absolutely support and stand by the University's decision.” Beers noted that he could not comment on athletics’ involvement with a possible event in the future.

In the release, the University stated that updates on a future event will be disclosed as discussions are held. This includes money that has already been raised, according to Cicala.

scauvuzzos1@lasalle.edu