There are many questions on Bentley students’ minds right now. Will we get to go back to school in the fall? Will we have to wear masks in class? Will we be able to travel off-campus? What happens if a second wave hits?
Luckily for many of us, we are in safe places to consider these questions, surrounded by friends and family at home in lockdown. But what if your questions revolved around your physical or financial safety? That is the situation that some Bentley students face, and that is why Bentley created an Emergency Assistance Fund to help. According to the Fund page:
“In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bentley has taken measures to protect our community by moving to remote, online classes for the spring semester. For some students, this shift presents an unexpected challenge and hardship — airfare home, moving expenses, lack of work study income and more. To help our students succeed in this unprecedented time, the university has established the Emergency Assistance Fund to support them. Please consider donating to this important fund to show our students that we are, and always will be, a community that rallies in a time of need.”
Three Bentley marketing majors recognized the hardships facing their peers and decided to do their part to help. Senior Mike Harris, Junior Amanda Shoemaker, and Senior Thomas Komar are part of MK 411, an experimental marketing class partnered with Shopify and run by Professor Ian Cross. The orignial intent of MK 411 was for students to pick a nonprofit and build a Shopify site selling products to raise money for that cause. Unfortunately, Coronavirus impacted the ability of many students to follow through with their nonprofits, but Harris, Shoemaker and Komar were undeterred. When their nonprofit partner fell through, the three students completely rebranded their website so that they could help their fellow Bentley students through the Emergency Assistance Fund.
Keep the Beat Going sells comfortable and stylish apparel, with all profits going towards Bentley students who need assistance because of the Coronavirus outbreak. Harris, Shoemaker and Komar are pleased with the support that Bentley has given them for this student project and hope that in turn Bentley students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni will take the opportunity to purchase from Keep the Beat Going to help support the Emergency Assistance Fund.