Guys Smash a Car for Crohn’s

Fraternity wrecks an Oldsmobile to benefit disease research


An Oldsmobile, a few cans of spray paint, and a 10-pound sledgehammer were united on Monday to raise funds for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. The car bash, sponsored by the fraternity Pi Kappa Alpha, encouraged students to use the sledgehammer or a baseball bat to take out their frustrations on the donated “beater” car: $3 for 15 seconds, and $5 for 30 seconds. The money will support studies of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which together affect about one million people in the United States.

For the fraternity brothers, the event was fun, but it also had a meaningful and personal purpose. “We have several brothers in the fraternity who either have Crohn’s disease or have family members who have Crohn’s disease,” says Alex Alben (SMG’08). “So it feels closer to home for us.”

Alan Wong can be reached at alanwong@bu.edu.

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  • Alan Wong

    Executive Producer

    Alan Wong oversees a team of video producers who create video content for BU's online editorial publications and social media channels. He has produced more than 300 videos for Boston University, shuffling through a number of countries in the process: Australia, Argentina, Peru, Ireland, China, and Cambodia. He has also bored audiences in Atlanta and Boston giving talks on video for higher ed. Profile

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There are 15 comments on Guys Smash a Car for Crohn’s

  3. Thanks to all who were involved in this fundraiser! I am a graduate student (online) and live in Lancaster PA. I have been battling chrohn’s for 8 years and am getting ready to have my 2nd surgery in the midst of trying to get my degree completed. It is a dreadful disease that needs a cure!!! God bless all of you who took part in this project!!!! Attttttttttt to all of you!

    Sincerely, Barb Gerber

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  4. Great job guys- I love it!!! My daughter Angela (com10) just sent it. Her younger brother-our son Elliott was dx at age 2 years; fed via p.e.g. tube until age 7. He is in remission today at age 16. The CCFA does great things.
    FYI Little Elliott was their Shining Star at age 3 in Boca Raton,FL. He told people his peg site was a bullet wound-LOL- but most importantly his Disease is hiding, as he says for today. God Bless all of you- continue bashing and smashing- but next time invite me

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  7. Maybe it was for a good cause, but when I saw people paying to smash a car with a sledgehammer I, and a lot of the people around me were disgusted and surprised that BU even allowed such a parade and promotion of violent behavior. It was embarrassing to have that going on at BU and on a main road like Comm Ave where so many people drive by. It was a deplorable way to represent our school and I hope whoever gave the OK for that idea thinks twice next time.

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  8. Awesome :] I have Crohn’s and would’ve loved to be there to smash up the car! I think it’s a fun way to raise money, who doesn’t like to break things now and again… especially when it means donating to a great cause! Thanks for the support… there’s gotta be a cure out there!

    – Michelle

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  10. Way to go guys! I’m a grad student who was in a different fraternity in undergrad, but I totally support your endeavors in this event. Everyone loves a good car smash, and as a friend to someone with Crohn’s disease I think you picked a great charity.

    As to the two naysayers, yes, it is typical fraternity behavior to find new and interesting and fun ways to raise money for charities or do community service. What have you done lately? Also, you sould refer to our campus, not are campus. Perhaps you should take a course in basic English grammar next semester.

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  11. Great cause, we’ve been involved with CCFA for eight years, since our daughter was diagnosed with Crohns disease at age thirteen.
    Keep up the good work boys!

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  13. As President of CCFA Philadelphia/Delaware Valley and as a Crohn’s patient for over 35 years, I applaud your efforts to bring public awareness as well as $$$ to find the cures for these horrific diseases.

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  14. First, let me say that I am very supportive of the cause behind this event. Our son’s daytime nanny is being tested currently for what they believe might be Chrone’s and it pains me to think she may not be able to continue with us, because my son loves her so much.

    My concern lies in the venue with which this activity took place. (1) Walking by as an unknowing observer and as a female, it was actually very disturbing to watch several male student take a sledge hammer to the car. (2) BU had just organized an event the night before to promote responsible celebrating (re: superbowl) and the car smashing event seemed to go against everything the Agganis event was trying to stand for. Particularly because the car was spray painted with several derogatory terms against BC. It just seemed to promote violence as a way to celebrate.

    I would just ask, in the future, that the gentlemen in the fraternity think about a different and more positive way to raise money for a very worthy cause.

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  15. The activity the other day was not, in any way, promoting violent behavior. If they had used a brother’s ex-girlfriend instead of a used car, maybe you’d have a good case. The idea was a great one and it was for a wonderful cause. Clearly, if you’re walking or driving down Comm Ave and see people taking a sledge hammer to a car, you’re going to have a reaction. But then you should realize “This is taking place on BU property during a busy time, I bet there’s a reason behind this”. I don’t get how that is embarrassing to have on our campus. What is more embarrassing is people doing nothing yet pretending they care. And this is NOT guys violently smashing things under the guise of charity. Its an innovative way to raise money. How about this- try a bake sale and see if it raises as much money as their idea did.

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