On Saturday, the brothers of Tau Epsilon Phi helped raise nearly $5,000 during their second annual 5K Charity Run for mental health awareness. 

The run started on the Robinson Green and stretched across campus, from the engineering building to Whitney Hall, and included dozens of runners from multiple fraternities, sororities and non-affiliates.  

Built on the three pillars of friendship, chivalry and service, Tau Epsilon Phi focuses on bringing awareness to humanitarian causes through communal action and charity events — and the 5K is only one of the many events that they have planned this year. 

The fraternity donated the money that was raised in full to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.  

September is Mental Health Awareness Month, and organizations like NAMI, who provide for the welfare of the mentally disabled and educate the public on mental health in general, rely almost exclusively on donations and charity events.  

With schools open and autumn weather approaching, many student-run organizations are anxious to get back outside and bring the Rowan community together with in-person events. 

“Getting out and being able to do something big like this is a success all its own,” said Gerald Laughlin, event organizer and chairman of service and philanthropy for Tau Epsilon Phi.

A common purpose draws people together, but perhaps even stronger a force is engagement.  Last year, although school was in session, students had never been more isolated or excluded from the greater Rowan community. Events attract people from all groups and all backgrounds, with or without investment, and that engagement has returned in full force for the 2021 school year. 

So, stay informed of all the other events in the coming weeks. Students can sit with bated breath knowing that, for the time being and hopefully for the foreseeable future, Rowan University is back to normal.

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