Tom DeLuca hypnotizes students Monday at the Auditorium. Deluca made students pretend that they were fishing, driving, milking cows and weightlifting.
One of goals of MSU’s Greek Week is to bring the community together to raise money for charity, but that doesn’t mean the group can’t have fun while raising funds.
The greek community brought corporate hypnotist Tom DeLuca to MSU on Monday to perform during its annual Greek Week.
“We already had educational speakers this semester, so we thought a fun speaker might be a nice change,” said Lauren Gardner, Greek Week director.
“We’re excited to get someone who’s exciting and promoting positive things about leadership.”
ASMSU’s Student Assembly passed a bill March 20 allocating $2,950 from its special projects fund to bring DeLuca to MSU.
ASMSU is MSU’s undergraduate student government.
Nathaniel Giddings, an ASMSU representative and Greek Week director for external relations, introduced the bill and said ASMSU funding the event gives the greek community an opportunity to give more back to charity.
Proceeds from admission to Greek Week events, including tonight’s MTV Dance Night and Wednesday’s Battle of the Bands, will be split among the community’s selected charities, Giddings said.
“If we had to pay for Tom DeLuca ourselves, that would be $3,000 that would not go toward benefiting the American Cancer Society or Share Laura’s Hope,” Giddings said.
Juan Carlos Elizalde, Student Assembly vice chairperson for internal affairs, challenged the funding for the event because it conflicted with an ASMSU elections kickoff concert also scheduled for Monday.
“(DeLuca) is somebody good to have on campus, and I think the greek community chose him wisely,” Elizalde said.
“The only reason why I didn’t vote for it was the timing. The event takes place at almost the exact time as our concert. I think it’s a conflict.”
But the event benefited a large number of students who wouldn’t be able to attend the concert, Student Assembly Chairperson Michael Leahy said.
“With more than 3,000 students attending, we’re addressing constituents that would be unable to go to our concert regardless because they are mandated to go to Greek Week activities,” Leahy said. “It’s not as if we’re creating a competing event.”
Giddings said it’s exciting to be able to bring the community together for an event, and even more exciting to be able to raise money for charities.
“It’s amazing how much 2,500 people can accomplish when we come together,” Giddings said.
“To me, it’s more exciting than anything to see people get excited to give back to the community.”
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