Andrew Lafrance

Robin Bickel is excited for this weekend.

The first-ever UPC Breast Cancer Awareness 5K is being held at Larson Park on Oct. 3. Bickel, the UPC Special Events coordinator, is in charge.

“This event is very important to me,” Bickel said. “Several women in my family have had breast cancer.”

Bickel said she wants to spread the importance of finding a cure for breast cancer to SDSU students and the Brookings community.

“I want to see at least 100 people there,” she said.

The event consists of a 5K walk or run. The course takes participants on an “attractive route” along the bike trails through Larson Park, off 22nd Avenue. The path will be marked not only by signs but also by volunteers standing alongside to cheer runners on.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Bickel feels a strong sense of responsibility to bring the disease to the community’s attention.

“I feel privileged to be the coordinator in charge of an event that can make such a difference,” Bickel said.

The cost is $15 for each participant wishing to run or walk the 3.1-mile stretch. All of the proceeds go to the Breast Cancer Foundation, which helps support research for finding a cure for breast cancer. The event is also sponsored by Coke and KSDJ.

The 5K run is a first for UPC and for Bickel, who wanted to have an event that gave back to the community.

“I want everyone in Brookings to come to this, students as well as community members,” she said.

Bickel knows her expectations for everyone in town to come out for the event may be high, but she said it does not matter.

“Any amount of participation from students is appreciated,” she said. “It is so neat to see people on campus getting involved.”

Bickel said she plans to make this an event that UPC can bring back next fall.

“It would be awesome to start a new tradition that was always focused on helping fund breast cancer research,” she said.

Students who want to volunteer to help out with the event should stop by the UPC office across from Java City in The Union. If students want to participate in the event, they can stop by the office and ask for an early registration form.

Students can also show up on Oct. 3, when registration will be held from 8 to 8:50 a.m. Signs will be posted to clearly mark the registration table and event course.

No matter what the weather is like, the event will still be held.

“I’m just very excited about it,” said Bickel. “It’s so important that students on campus help support finding a cure for breast cancer.”

Another event happening this week is Sex Signals, a comedic look at relationships and dating. Monica Hanson, the UPC Lectures & Forums coordinator, said that the show is enjoyable but not heavy-handed.

“It is a funny and unique way to bring up issues everyone deals with,” she said.

Comedians Ben Murrie and Libby Matthews will perform skits and improvisation on issues such as how to act at a party and what to do on a date.

The show also handles heavier issues such as date rape and unrealistic sexual pressures.

“They suggest some cheesy pick-up lines as well,” Hanson said.

She added that they show is never sexually inappropriate or degrading. “It’s very clean.”

Since 2000, Sex Signals has been performed over 1600 times at over 400 different colleges and military institutions around the country. It has become one of the most popular programs that focuses on relevant sexual issues.

Sex Signals will show at 8 p.m. on Oct. 1 in the Fishback Studio Theatre in the PAC. Admission for SDSU students is free.

Hanson said she hopes students take advantage of this unique event.

“I think students will find the show not only funny, but meaningful as well.”