IUDM is just around the riverbed, people, in case your friends on committees constantly hitting you up for money haven't made that obvious enough. It's the largest student run organization in the nation, and last year we raised a whopping $3.2 million for Riley's Hospital for Children. MILLION. I'd call that a win. However, a lot of people are having mixed feelings regarding the fact that the marathon is over Halloween this year. It is one of IU's favorite holidays; the weekend where everyone gets to see how well you did googling "unique college halloween costume ideas". Face it, you're going to be Where's Waldo? again and enjoy every second of it.
As you dawn your overly modest nurse costumes and face paint this year, give some thought to how much more fun those costumes would be if you got to wear them at one party, with all of your best friends, 36 straight hours. Sounds pretty good right?
1. There is an 100% that there will be candy somewhere/everywhere
Since there's a very low chance of there being any of what I'd like to call "college candy" anywhere near IUDM, Hospitality has to make sure everyone is fed and I'm sure the number one food group that will be addressed is sweets. For some that may be one of the biggest reasons that they are against having the marathon over a major IU drinking holiday, but to those I say: Candy doesn't give you a hangover. And if it does, you're doing it right.
2. Costumes, costumes, costumes
If you've never done IUDM, you aren't aware of A) how much fun it is B) how rewarding it is and C) how tired you are at hours 29 on. However, with IUDM being over Halloween, there is a guarantee of candy as well as lots of crazy costumes to keep you awake. I'm sure Morale, the lively bunch that loves to get you hype when you just want to nap, has plenty of tricks up their sleeves to own the costume game come marathon time. Changing costumes every few hours is not only a display of how prepared/awesome you are for getting into the spirit, but also its a sure fire way of keeping you awake and rejuvenated.
*3.2* The best dressed people at IUDM: Riley kids
No contest that the Riley kids will sweep the board of best costumes. This is the part that you should all be beyond excited to experience. The Riley Kids are the reasons that IUDM is what it is. They are the reason that you donate to your friends, even though you know you don't have any money to spare. They are the reason that everyone works so hard, year round, to make this event happen; so that they can feel like a normal kid for just 36 hours and dress up like a Minion, or Buzz Lightyear, or whoever they want to be. They put the kids, in FTK and that is all that they are. Kids getting the chance to enjoy being kids. Also, I bet their costumes are going to be on point.
For a lot of the kids that are in Riley and involved with IUDM, the marathon is like another Christmas. These kids are getting two holidays for the price of one and that price tag last year was an astounding $3.2 million. Halloween is a fun time for everyone and it may be hard to break from a traditional party weekend, but I can't think of a better place to be surrounded by so much love and joy than IUDM on October 31st.
