The Daily Campus

Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: Focus

Media Credit: Ryan Sayers Bruce Morse, a 3rd-semester exploratory major and member of Lambda Chi Alpha, holds a pair of jeans at the clothing drive.

The UConn chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha began a clothing sale yesterday to help raise money for the North American Food Drive, a charity that the fraternity has been associated with since 1933. With the help of Run of the Mill, a company based out of Newport, R.I. that buys brand name clothing factory-direct, Lambda Chi set up at 9 a.m. Monday, kicking off their three-day drive for charity.

"It was kind of quiet in the morning," said Chris Hickey, a 3rd-semester economics major, "but once we got everything set up, there was a rush."

"Rush" is definitely the appropriate term here; armed with bags and credit cards, all bundled up in cold-weather gear, students crowded Fairfield Way, hoping to find the perfect top in the right size.

Near midday on Monday, the supplies had run pretty thin. Hickey estimated that by noon, Lambda Chi had done about $3,000 worth of sales, 15 percent of which the fraternity donates to charity. The company that facilitates the sales takes the remaining profit.

When the top-name gear, which came from such businesses as Victoria's Secret, Abercrombie and Fitch, Banana Republic and American Eagle went quickly, Hickey was quick to calm the panic.

"There's another huge shipment coming tomorrow," he said Monday to the crowd. "It's going to be different stuff from today."

The low prices and the prospect of charitable purchases were not enough to keep some satisfied, however.

"They had a tent sale last year and everything was like $6," said Liz Davis, a 3rd-semester molecular and cell biology and chemistry double major, speaking of last year's sale, which wasn't associated with a charity. "Now everything costs at least $14. What's up with that?"

Others were irked by the thin selection and the apparent gender bias.

"This is mostly girl's stuff here - nothing for me," said Jason Morehouse, a 3rd-semester management and engineering for manufacturing major.

The scene was ultimately dominated by UConn's fashion-savvy females, as about 80 percent of the day's merchandise was girl's clothing.

All in all, the clothing sale was a success. The lines were constantly full but still moved. Many students came away with cheap factory-priced clothing, and Lambda Chi made a good piece of change for a good cause. The sale continues today, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in front of the Student Union.

However, be warned - if you're looking for the best gear - the earlier, the better.



Contact Tom Crosby at

Tom.Crosby@UConn.edu.

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