Members of the Loyola International Business Organization are raising funds and encouraging student participation through an unusual way: soccer games.
With eight teams and approximately 72 participants, the LIBO soccer tournament began the first Monday of October, and games were held on Mondays and Wednesdays through October. The final game was held on Wednesday.
“It’s basically supposed to do two things: first, raise awareness about LIBO … the second purpose is fund raising,” faculty adviser Miguel Caldas said.
The LIBO soccer tournament was created not only to create awareness about the organization but also to promote fun, an exchange of cultures between students and making friends.
“It is a great way to meet people, on and off the field,” said Jennifer Gutierrez, marketing freshman.
According to Fernan Arias, international business sophomore, LIBO fund raising committee member and the main organizer of this project, the tournament was also designed so that students could have fun. “I’m happy to see people enjoy soccer plus meet and share with new people,” he said.
One feature of the tournament that participants appreciated is that it’s co-ed. “I think it’s interesting to see the girls playing right up there with the guys,” said finance freshman Robert Schenck.
“Who said soccer was just for men or just for Latinos?” Arias added.
“I enjoy playing with (guys) not only because they are my friends, but because they have more skill and are more aggressive than I am … playing with (guys) makes me a better player,” Gutierrez said.
The LIBO soccer tournament has also expanded to include students from other universities. Several students from the University of New Orleans are playing in this tournament. Saul Bueso, a civil engineering freshman from UNO, said it was his love of soccer that drove him to participate in the tournament.
Although this year is not the first time that LIBO has sponsored a soccer tournament for fund raising purposes, it is the first time that the project has been such a success. The revenues for this year were approximately $1,000, almost twice as much as last year.
“I hope the tournament becomes bigger and bigger,” Arias said.
LIBO’s goal for the tournament revenue is to create a fund that will support LIBO activities throughout the year. According to Caldas, this tournament can create enough revenue to sustain seminars and business fairs, which will benefit all Loyola students. LIBO is open not only to business majors but to all Loyola students, Caldas added.
Caldas said that the soccer tournament is LIBO’s first fund raising project for the year. Without the funds generated by the tournament, LIBO would have to charge members for future activities, which would likely decrease students’ interest in participating in LIBO.
The organization of the tournament was easier this year because LIBO had the structure in place from last year, Caldas said. Arias and Caldas did, however, have to produce a budget to run the tournament and make sure that it would generate revenues.
With a business plan and all the goals set up, Arias advertised this tournament and also explained to students what LIBO and the soccer tournament was about. LIBO charged members a $10 fee to participate, while non-members were charged $15.
Andrea Castillo can be reached at [email protected].
