Presidents from various student organizations around campus got pied for a good cause Wednesday.
In light of April Fools’ Day, pre-health honor society Alpha Epsilon Delta held its third annual Pie a President event, which benefits Dell’s Children’s Surgical Global Outreach, at Speedway Plaza.
The presidents wore a sign reading their name and the organization they represented. Anyone from the UT community could purchase a whipped cream pie, or two, to throw in the face of their targeted president.
“It’s worth it,” said Kendall Huddleston, petroleum engineering junior and Texas Bluebonnets president. “It’s very much worth it. They’re only putting whipped cream on there.”
Presidents such as Huddleston, who personally got pied more than 10 times, stood on a giant blue tarp stretched across the plaza. The Alpha Delta Pi sorority, Texas Blazers and many other organizations came out to support the benefit. AED officers stood on the side, equipped with paper towels to wipe down any president after receiving a pie.
“We just thought it’d be a good way to get the campus to come out and support the cause,” said Joshua Carrasco, neurobiology senior and AED president.
AED is the nation’s oldest pre-health society. The Texas Alpha chapter seeks to promote opportunities that would help anyone wishing to enter the medical field prepare for their future careers. Carrasco said the event started when Dell Children’s Surgical Global Outreach came to speak to the organization three years ago.
Dell Children’s Surgical Global Outreach is a group of medical professionals who provide surgical care to children in low-income communities. Most recently, the group has partnered with the Shalom Foundation to provide care at the Moore Pediatric Surgical Center in Guatemala City.
“Their story was very touching to us as a pre-health honor society,” Carrasco said. “Seeing them live their dreams and going out to do these procedures was really inspiring.”
Carrasco said the group joined up with the global outreach to try and bring together organizations from all over campus.
AED charged $3 for one pie and $5 for two pies to throw at any of the campus organization leaders who volunteered.
Biochemistry sophomore Mashal Kara came out to throw a pie at Aftab Zindani, president of the Ismaili Muslim Students Association and mechanical engineering senior. Kara said she felt an organization benefitting and working with children is a good cause to support.
“I think we should have more organizations to come together like this for a good cause,” Kara said.
