By Adriana Rosales
Head Photographer
The Chronicle will be holding a benefit at 6 p.m. this Thursday, March 12, in Saint Joseph’s Auditorium. It is the first one being held by the school newspaper according to Ashley Sweet, the Business and Advertising manager of The Chronicle.
Admission for the benefit night is $2, and the event will feature entertainment such as acappella singing from The Golden Notes, and improvisational comedy from Crate of Apes. The Golden Notes will not only be performing songs from last semester, but are also performing new songs they’ve recently learned. The new songs “will be performed for the first time on campus,” said Taylor Knapp, president of The Golden Notes.
While the mixed acappella group will be singing during the opening of the event, Crate of Apes will have two 30-minute segment shows later on. The comedy club will be doing a mix of short and long form improvisation. “Short form is what is typically done on ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ and long form has more of a narrative to it,” said Katie Klimacek , troupe leader of Crate of Apes.
Because the event is about fun, and not solely based around journalism, the event is called “Off the Record.”
“This isn’t about reporting the news, this is about funding the news,” said Sweet.
The Chronicle has received approximately $1,175 in donated raffle items, “from gift cards, to make up and beauty products, to an entrepreneur-starter-kit,” said Sweet. Raffle tickets will range in price depending on how many are purchased. One will be $1, while 10 will cost $5, though the first 20 guests of the night will receive a free raffle ticket.
Local businesses, including Martin Harding & Mazzotti LLP, Times Union, Vent Fitness, and Women’s Press Club of NYS will be attending. A total of 13 businesses have sponsored the event and have “donated hundreds of dollars in raffle items,” said Sweet. “I was hoping to have about five or six businesses, but the fact we have over 10 is mind blowing.”
Currently a senior, Sweet has been the newspaper’s Advertising Manager since May of last year. As part of her job, she reaches out to businesses in hopes they will purchase an advertisement in the newspaper. Wanting to try a different approach to fundraising, rather than going door to door, she thought more about community outreach. Sweet did this by setting up the benefit event so businesses could “see how important the paper is to the students.”
The newspaper receives an annual budget between $15,000 and $17,000 from the Student Association. Published weekly, there are 16 editions every semester, with 500 to 600 issues being circulated. Previously costing $680, “this semester…we went from 16 pages to 28, increasing the cost of printing to $770,” said Sweet.
“Ashley has been working tirelessly on this event, giving her blood, sweat, and tears,” said Dr. Amanda Damiano, Assistant Professor of Communications. Though Sweet began planning the event during the summer of last year, she has had some guidance from Dr. Damiano. “[She] has been helping me create, brainstorm, proofread, and even remain calm throughout this process,” said Sweet.
With the first benefit night occurring this Thursday, Sweet has already planned the next fundraising event, called “Dough Rai$er.” Uno’s Pizzeria in Crossgates Mall will donate up to 20 percent of the prices of meals purchased between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. to The Chronicle on Monday, April 13.
All proceeds from both “Off the Record” and “Dough Rai$er” will help fund the student-run newspaper. “They’re not just investing in putting in a coupon, but investing in the students who publish and put their work in the paper,” said Sweet.
