“Don’t let cancer be a cock block!”

This was just one of the many phrases Alpha Phi Omega [APO] members were using to encourage students in the Holmes Student Center to donate to Relay For Life Thursday.

Seana Winner, junior sociology major and APO member, said Alpha Phi Omega is a co-ed service fraternity and the goal of setting up a table near the TCF Bank was to raise money for Relay For Life.

Michael Sunderman, sophomore biology major and co-education coordinator for NIU Prism, was also hosting a bake sale in the Holmes Student Center Thursday. Sunderman said there are pros and cons for promoting a cause in a way like the APO members.

“I think that it’s a good cause and it drums up publicity but at the same time I know that I feel really uncomfortable when people like, call me out,” Sunderman said. “It kind of puts people in an awkward position. I don’t know if it gives them more business than not…but it’s a good cause so doing whatever you can for your cause is good.”

Other slogans employed by Winner and three fellow APO members included ‘Do your best, save the breasts,’ ‘Save the baby maker,’ and ‘Support our one night stand.’

“If you say something that’s not heard everyday and is a little more shocking, more people are likely to respond and come up to you and help you out,” Winner said.

However, not everyone was as enthusiastic about the language used.

“Well, it’s certainly not something we would endorse or support,” said Amy Jo Steinbreuecker, public relations manager at the American Cancer Society [ACS.] “Cancer is an ugly disease and for some folks to take a turn and be offensive with it; it’s incomprehensible.”

Ashley Wittemeyer, publicity chair for Colleges Against Cancer and graduate student, said that while she appreciates that APO was trying to raise funds for Relay For Life, Colleges Against Cancer would have taken a different approach.

“We probably would try to be more conscientious of other students’ comfort level,” Wittemeyer said. “I would hope they wouldn’t say anything offensive.”

Romeo Jackson, freshman theater major and Prism fund raising chair, said he is a fan of the random yelling.

“They’re screaming out ‘Save the ta-tas’ so I’m definitely going to stop because I heard ta-tas,” Jackson said.

Richard Hickey, graduate exercise physiology major and APO member, said he thought laughter was the best way to attract people’s attention.

“If someone is willing to support, they’re going to support,” Hickey said. “I always think laughter is the key to everyone’s heart so why not make it funny?”

Although cancer does effect every part of your body, the methods APO used to attract attention were inappropriate said Wittemeyer.

“I greatly appreciate them trying to do something nice,” Wittemeyer said. “But that’s not the place or time for saying stuff like that. Yelling is not very appropriate.”

Lisa Mayes, senior rehabilitation services major and member of Colleges Against Cancer, said that type of marketing scheme is typical of cancer-related campaigns.

“If you go to a Relay For Life rally, you’ll see a lot of that,” Mayes said. “I don’t really like those sayings, I don’t want to say they’re tasteful, because they’re not. Cockblock is definitely too much.”

Winner said the ‘Don’t let cancer be a cock block’ slogan refers to prostate cancer.

“I’m a little concerned with the things they said,” Mayes said. “It’s supposed to be helping many people around the world, so at the least it should be done in a respectful way.”

Hickey said the group got a variety of reactions from passing students, many of which donated dollars or spare change to the group in exchange for a purple and white ribbon.

“We get some bulging eyes every once in a while and the people will just walk away or roll their eyes,” Hickey said.

Steinbreuecker said that the manner in which APO conducted themselves as a cancer fundraising group was not indicative of how the ACS represents itself.

“Hopefully the folks that participated today don’t have cancer affecting their lives,” Steinbreuecker said. “Because I think their family or whoever is afflicted would be really disappointed.”

All present members said they were in some way affected by cancer.

Winner told passing students that even a penny can help the cause.

“This is going for a great cause, it’s helping people and it’s helping maybe find a cure for cancer,” Hickey said.

Steinbreuecker apologized on behalf of the ACS and Relay for Life.

“You just, you just don’t want to be associated with this sort of thing,” Steinbreuecker said.

The NIU Women’s Resource Center said they did not feel comfortable making a comment on the situation.