The Mike Hardy Basketball Tournament has been a cornerstone of the Beta Iota Chapter of Sigma Nu's history for the past 36 years. The event itself honors a fallen brother, Mike Hardy, who passed away tragically in 1985. The proceeds raised through this event are directly donated to our philanthropy, the Ponery Orphanage in Kursk, Russia.

Last year we were sadly unable to hold the annual event due to a State lockdown mandate, as well as our dismissal from campus. The Ponery Orphanage relies on institutions like ours for funding.

Through careful planning, we created a self-contained event that only included the participation of those who live in our house. The donation system we created was completely virtual. We utilized a GoFundMe page and the individual donations of family, friends, and alumni via online banking apps. We found an outside venue that was willing to rent to us as a means to ensure we limit our exposure to outside guests. Along with the university’s guidelines, we would have been subject to the venue’s specific guidelines. Examples of these include wearing masks and maintaining social distance.

The University of Mount Union and its Administration have repeatedly denied our request to hold this event. Events similar to this have been sanctioned by the University over the course of the past few weeks. At a time when the campus community is being vaccinated and careful preparation has been made on our end, it makes no sense as to why the University will not sanction this event.

In light of the University's decision, we have developed an alternative plan to ensure that we keep Mike's memory alive, as well as raise money for the orphanage. This petition is meant to serve as a representation of our disapproval of the University's decision.

The Brothers of Sigma Nu ask that you show your support by signing this petition.

Thank you all for your time and support!

- The Brothers of the Beta Iota Chapter of Sigma Nu