This Saturday marked the end of Derby Days, Sigma Chi’s annual fundraising event. This week-long benefit incorporated raffle sales, a floor hockey tournament, campus cleanups, and a concert by the Rusty Pipes. All of the activities were co-coordinated with several sororities, including Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Phi, Sigma Delta, and Alpha Omega Epsilon.
Sigma Chi’s unique event takes its name from the derby hats worn by its members through the week. The hats are incorporated into one of the week’s competitive aspects. The four sororities participated in an assortment of games and activities such as “Steal a Derby,” “Sign a Sig,” scavenger hunts, and a banner contest. Points were awarded based on performance in each of these events; the team with the most points at the end of the week was awarded a percentage of the proceeds to a donate to the charity of its choice.
The week started with a floor hockey tournament last Saturday. Teams of five and six signed up in the DCC throughout the week. The intense competition lasted much of the day for the nine participating teams, and proved to be a sheer test of endurance for the final two: the Easy Riders and the Free Agents. After a quick final game, the Free Agents emerged triumphant, going home with glory and a small portion of the proceeds to donate as they wish.
Sunday brought unusually pleasant Troy weather and the first annual Derby Days Campus Cleanup. This event incorporated competition into picking up trash around campus. From Freshman Hill to BARH, teams roved the campus in an attempt to collect the most garbage. After a few hours of searching and cleaning, several hundred pounds of junk were collected and removed from the campus in black trash bags.
Weekdays consisted largely of raffles and Rusty Pipes ticket sales at tables dotting the campus around Russell Sage Dining Hall and the DCC. The prizes raffled off ranged from a Best Buy gift card to tickets to see the bands Badfish and Umphrey’s McGee. Winners were drawn on Sunday: Bad Fish tickets were won by Rosie East ’09 and Ricardo Camacho ’08, Jennie McKain ’09 won the Best Buy gift card, and Andy Tracy ’11 got tickets to see Umphrey’s McGee. With Friday night came the Rusty Pipes show in West Hall. The group’s talent and showmanship ensured a good time was had by all in attendance.
The week concluded with the derby on Saturday, which had been swiftly adapted to the new-fallen snow. The activities ranged from musical chairs and a snow sculpture contest to the massively popular “Dress a Brother Like a Girl” competition. After tallying the points from all of the week’s events, Alpha Phi was declared the overall winner.
Over $500 was raised and donated to the Huntsman Cancer Institute, in addition to hundreds of pounds of clothing and canned food to be donated to a local shelter. Thank you to all the sororities that participated, the Rusty Pipes, and those who donated money during the week. Hope to see you all again next year.
