Crazies Who Care Support Emily K Center

Burr and Burton alumnus crazy for charity

By Tom Haley Herald Staff
When you watch the students during Duke University's home basketball games bouncing up and down like pistons, you can be certain that one of them will be Burr and Burton Academy graduate Anders Campbell.

But Campbell's contribution at the game will be far greater than that of one of the students moving and cheering feverishly for the beloved Blue Devils all 40 minutes of play. Campbell is co-founder of Crazies Who Care, a new student-run program that will raise money for the Emily Krzyzewski Center and Duke Children's Hospital.

Members of Crazies Who Care will be behind line monitors at the games asking students to swipe their DukeCards to donate $1 to the Emily Krzyzewski Life Center and the Duke Children's Hospital. It will begin at Saturday evening's Blue & White Scrimmage at Cameron Indoor Arena.

The idea to turn Duke basketball games, known for their fanatical fans, into a philanthropic venture began with a simple, spontaneous conversation.

"I was just talking to one of my friends about ways to cheer at games and this idea became a part of that," said Campbell, a former Burr and Burton basketball player.

Campbell said he had never been involved with a charity at BBA or in Manchester.

"This is kind of a first for me," he said.

There are no numbers to help Campbell gauge how successful the project will be since it all begins Saturday, but the feedback on campus has been positive.

"A lot of people are excited about it," Campbell said. "The freshmen are especially excited about it which is good because it might mean this will become associated with Duke basketball over the next few years."

The Emily Krzyzewski Family Center memorializes the mother of Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski.

The student section at Cameron holds 1,500 fans. Campbell is a junior so he has experienced the craziness there for two years.

"It's unreal," Campbell said. "You can't understand what it's like on TV. It's a workout. You are bouncing the whole time."

Campbell enjoyed his days as a Bulldog, although he never got to sample the frenzy of the Barre Auditorium as a player where the Division II Final Four takes place.

"We got beat by Lyndon in the first round my senior year," he said.

Campbell did attend as a fan after he graduated and saw the Bulldogs win the state crown.

While he cherishes the BBA memories, he didn't want to stay around in the cold weather.

"I wanted to go where it was a little warmer," Campbell said. "I visited Duke and I loved the campus so I applied early decision."

He is majoring in psychology and French with a minor in political science - and cultivating a whole new perspective of the Cameron Crazies.

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