KU Hillel developed custom reusable drink covers that turn into easy-to-carry hair scrunchies when not in use.
Within twenty-four hours of being told of a drink-spiking incident that happened in the student community, the scrunchies were designed, Suzy Sostrin, executive director, said. KU Hillel ordered them through a company founded by fellow Jews.
“We are proud to partner with Greek life and KU on this important issue facing college students today,” Sostrin said.
The drink covers allow space for a straw but completely protect the drink from compromising. Each cover says “keep your hands off my drink” and features a hamsa. Kate Jacobs, a Hillel Student Ambassador, helped KU Hillel come up with these drink covers as part of Hillel’s staff-student partnership.
“My peers and I felt helpless from preventing gender-based violence,” Kate Jacobs, junior, said. “I knew I needed to do something to make a difference and protect our students, and I’m thankful that KU Hillel felt the same way. I’m so glad they’re willing to put in the work to prevent these acts of violence from occurring on and around KU’s campus.”
Once the scrunchies arrived at Hillel, the goal was to get them into as many hands of students as possible. KU Hillel passed them out at Midnight Oneg, a late-night Shabbat event, and partnered with AEPi across the street to make these available.
“Having these scrunchies is a great way to make everyone feel more comfortable at parties,” said Zac Cole, senior and AEPi president. “I think anyone who comes to our events will be very appreciative of this option, and they will feel much safer and hopefully have more fun.”
KU Hillel is also committed to educating students on the warning signs of a compromised drink, as well as how to better watch out for each other. By partnering with KU student organizations that focus on preventing gender-based violence, they are able to further protect the KU community.
“Judaism is infused into these educational opportunities through learning about the importance of kehillah to Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Bazeh, which translates to the Jewish value of communal responsibility,” Sostrin said. “The most important thing to us is preventing this from happening to another KU student whether they are Jewish or not.”
Drink covers have already made it into the hands of hundreds of Hillel students, and other students have come to Hillel specifically to get their own after seeing friends with them.
“Nothing makes me feel safer and happier than seeing groups of students using the scrunchies to protect themselves,” Jacobs said. “They visibly show that students will not put up with drink spiking and gender-based violence.”
These scrunchies were funded through the generosity of Kansas City Jewish community members and Hillel International.
