After tempers flared at a four-hour protest against the use of a swastika on campus, UF students relieved their stress with dogs and doughnuts Friday.
Outside the Reitz Union Breezeway and later on Turlington Plaza, the site of Thursday’s protest, students paid a dollar each to eat a doughnut and pet, hug or snap photos with three dogs — a yorkie, a corgi and an English cream Golden Retriever.
By the end of the day, $200 was raised.
For the UF Psychology Club, it was a welcome turnout for its inaugural “Doggos and Doughnuts” fundraiser, said Chloe Kemble, the organization’s fundraising director. Kemble said the dogs attracted more people than most of the club’s fundraisers have.
After students and others protested a man wearing
a swastika armband Thursday, Kemble said, the dogs provided some joy to those involved.
“I think if anybody was affected and they did come out, I hope they were able to relieve some stress,” the 21-year-old UF psychology junior said.
Among the attending dogs were Mr. Darcy, Kemble’s 3-year-old yorkie, and Apollo, the club president’s 8-month-old English cream golden retriever.
Victor Cao, a 21-year-old UF marketing senior, brought Rudy, his 7-year-old corgi, for people to take photos with.
Cao said he isn’t a club member; he just wanted to promote Rudy’s Instagram account.
“He likes meeting new people, too,” he said.
Kemble said she knew the dogs would easily attract passing students.
“I guess it’s an excuse to get happiness out there,” she said.
