Zeta Tau Alphas name 'Big Man'

The Blues Brothers, the Backstreet Boys, Richard Simmons and an American Idol all performed at Tilson Auditorium on Saturday night, or at least their impersonators showed up.

Zeta Tau Alpha held its eighth annual Big Man On Campus event. This year's winner was Sigma Alpha Epsilon member Thomas Simmons.

"I was shocked and surprised to hear that I had won," said Simmons, a senior history and political science major. "I really just want to help Zeta raise all the money they can for breast cancer awareness"

Simmons had the winning act with a Blues Brothers rendition. He and former BMOC winner and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity brother Kyle Newnum, lip synced to one of the Blues Brothers' songs.

Simmons won the honor of being Big Man On Campus, as well as invitations to all Zeta Tau Alpha events for the year.

BMOC is the national philanthropic event that is put on by all Zeta chapters across the country. BMOC was started to raise money for breast cancer research and awareness. Zetas across the country raise millions of dollars a year by hosting this event at their universities.

During the show, guests were able to participate in a silent auction where prizes were announced at the end of the show. A football signed by Peyton Manning, Colts season tickets, beauty treatments and a grand prize trip to New York City with tickets and backstage passes to Good Morning America were all prizes that were up for the silent auction.

"We've raised over $4,700 in the last year alone," said Kara Jobe, a junior psychology major and the philanthropy chair for the Zetas.

"Zetas work all year for BMOC," said Jobe. "It's such a huge event and we really appreciate it when students can come out and support the cause."

The contest itself consisted of 12 men modeling formal wear, doing a group dance and showcasing individual talent.

This year's acts included a drum solo, a poem written about breast cancer awareness, singing, a Richard Simmons impression and workout routine, a breast cancer rap, a mime act to the song "Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia, magic tricks and Blues Brothers and Backstreet Boys impressions.

The judges scored the categories and also judged on how the gentlemen presented themselves and who raised the most money. The top five finalists answered a short question such as, "If you were in a Dumpster and you found $100,000, what would you do with it?" or "Do you think that world peace can be achieved?"

Answers varied from each contestant, but most of them had to do with donating time, money and effort to breast cancer research and awareness.

After the question-and-answer segment of the show, the judges tallied up the votes and chose the winner.

In the crowd this year were members of the fraternities who had brothers in the contest. Sigma Chi, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Tau Gamma, Alpha Tau Omega, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Tau Kappa Epsilon and Pi Kappa Alpha all had members in the contest.

Awards that were given away in addition to the Big Man On Campus award were Mr. Congeniality and Mr. Think Pink. The Mr. Congeniality award was given to Ben Rice, an Alpha Tau Omega member due to his answers in the final question and answer round. Mr. Think Pink was given to Adam Hawk, a Phi Delta Theta member. Hawk raised the most money in donations for breast cancer research.

"I came to support my fraternity brothers and save second base," said Quinn Carli, a senior insurance and risk management major and Sigma Alpha Epsilon member.

"I was last year's BMOC and Kyle Newnum was BMOC the year before," said Erik Anderson, a senior insurance risk management major and member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. "We're both members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, so we are trying to keep the tradition alive."

( Paula Lowry is a senior political science major. She can be reached at sascamed@isugw.indstate.edu.)