MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The UP 200 is next week and some NMU students from the NMU Criminal Justice Association are excited to volunteer.
“We’re super, super hyped for this,” said NMU Criminal Justice Association President Kay Hintze. “It’s been on my calendar since the fall semester no in winter semester we’re very excited to actually start the event and get in touch with the coordinators. We’re having a meeting tonight going over the final details and we’re all super, super excited.”
Around 20 students from the association will be volunteering to help with security in Downtown Marquette during the race.
“We’re really just extra sets of eyes for the local police in the area but we also help with perimeter control just to keep young kids and people away from the dog sled teams as their going by,” said NMU Criminal Justice Association Faculty Advisor Christopher MacMaster. “Really we’re there to help people if they need assistance.”
Hintze said volunteering with the event is a great way to practice interacting with the community while giving back.
“Criminal justice is centered around community engagement and supporting those around you, so having this experience and actually being downtown working with people closely,” said Hintze. “It’s an awesome way for us to get experience in the field, and it develops a strong connection with the local law enforcement as we’re working directly with them.”
The association has volunteered for the past two years at the festival while a race has been cancelled due to lack of snow and Emma Krause the association’s vice president said she is excited to experience the race for the first time.
“This’ll be my first year,” said Krause. “I’ve never seen a dog sled race either, I’ve heard about it growing up but I’ve never actually gotten to go to one so I’m really excited to see how it all works.”
