On Friday, Sept. 30, Blackburn President John Comerford was taped to a pillar outside of the Demuzio Campus Center as a fundraiser for the 20th Mini Olympics at the Macoupin Center for the Developmentally Disabled (MCDD). The fundraiser, which also included a bake sale, was hosted by Dr. Laura Wiedlocher’s Leadership Skills class in order to raise money for the MCDD – an organization that provides classes for adults with mobility or learning disabilities. The funds helped purchase T-shirts, lunch and other necessities for the Mini Olympics event that took place in Carlinville on Oct. 7.
Comerford was nervous before being taped. “I’m a little apprehensive… I’ve actually never done this before, and I’d like to still have my arm hair by the end of this,” he said. “I think we should probably have a EMT on standby.” He joked, “I intentionally didn’t wear my best suit.” Shortly after arriving, Comerford was boosted two feet high up onto the wall by a stool, and students began purchasing duct tape in which to wrap him. Wiedlocher and her class charged students a dollar per foot of duct tape and even allowed students to place the tape on Comerford wherever they wanted.
Once Comerford was taped fully to the wall with nothing else supporting him, he described the feeling “like being on one of those spinning rides that push you up against the wall.” He also described it as “feeling like Max at the beginning of ‘Mad Max: Fury Road.’” Students, staff and even some alumni all donated money to see Comerford suspended in the air. With the combined efforts of the bake sale and the duct tape fundraiser, the class and Wiedlocher raised over $500 to help support the Mini Olympics. Wiedlocher said, “I’m really impressed with the students. They came up with the idea, and I was so surprised President Comerford agreed. They have shown exemplary leadership skills and have done a great service to the community. I couldn’t be prouder.”
While the fundraiser was wrapping up Comerford was completely wrapped up in brightly colored tape and still insisted that it was not uncomfortable. Wiedlocher fed him some cookies from the bake sale. Soon after, he was cut down from the pillar.