For each student attending wrestling matches, a donation goes to United Way

By Susan Lang

Here's an easy way students can contribute to the United Way of Tompkins County, without spending a dime: Go to a free Cornell wrestling match.

Alfred E. Kahn, the R.J. Thorne Professor of Political Economy Emeritus at Cornell, has pledged to donate $1 to the United Way of Tompkins County for each student who attends the Saturday, Nov. 20, Black and Decker Wrestling Invitational tournament, from 3 to 5 p.m. in Newman Arena of the Field House.

In addition, every wrestler on the Cornell team has enlisted sponsors to pledge money to the United Way for each student in attendance at the match, which is the team's first home event of the season.

"All students have to do is show up, and the United Way benefits," said Rob Koll, head coach of the Cornell wrestling team and the mastermind behind the fund-raising event. Koll already has commitments from 16 fraternities and sororities who will have members attending the tournament.

And that's not all. Future home wrestling events at Newman Arena also will have donations going to the United Way or member agencies linked to student attendance:

• Keith Kennedy, provost emeritus and professor emeritus of education at Cornell, will donate $1 to Challenge Industries for each student who attends the Syracuse vs. Cornell wrestling match, slated for 2 p.m. Feb. 5.
• Dr. Jeffrey Lewis of Cayuga Facial Surgery will donate to Hospicare of Tompkins County for each student who attends the Harvard vs. Cornell wrestling match, beginning at 9 p.m. Feb. 11, after the Cornell basketball game.
• David Dunlop, retired from the Cornell Development Office, will donate to the Franziska Racker Centers for student attendance at the Brown vs. Cornell wrestling match, beginning at 2 p.m. Feb. 12.
• Russell Martin, professor emeritus of communication at Cornell, will donate to the United Way for student attendance at the Buffalo vs. Cornell wrestling match, scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 17.