Blue light special

Green and gold may be Wright State University’s colors, but for the first days of April, students on campus have been thinking, and wearing, blue.

The Student Union and Turning Points, the large, red outdoor sculpture on Wright State University’s main campus, were bathed in blue light after dark Friday, April 1, in support of Light It Up Blue, the national campaign for Autism Speaks.

They joined several other buildings and outdoor structures nationwide that shined blue to kick off the month-long campaign to promote autism awareness.

“Just knowing what autism is and how people can play their part, and giving back to Autism Speaks is really what the campaign is about,” said Samantha Romano, a junior at Wright State and a member of the Alpha Xi Delta, the sorority organizing the campaign on campus.

Students and faculty may have already noticed the sisters setting up shop with information tables last week at the Student Union. Many of them have also been touched by the autism cause.

“We have a lot of nursing students in our sorority who have been working with autistic kids and it’s something that they really enjoy,” said Romano. “Also some of our sisters have autistic siblings. I think that’s something that really makes you want to reach out,” Romano added.

You won’t have to reach too far to get behind the cause.

Last week, the sisters staked out The Hangar and Student Union to share information about autism, pass out light blue ribbons for the cure and sell glow-in-the-dark blue bracelets that say Autism Speaks.

On Saturday, April 2, the day after Light It Up Blue, the sorority took its campaign to the diamond for the 1 p.m. Wright State baseball game at Nischwitz Stadium.

Wright State players wore blue during warm-ups and the sorority sold blue baked goods and other food to raise money for the campaign.

Learn more about Light It Up Blue