ATO member crowned at annual charity event

Biker men in leather waited in the dark auditorium. Women in cocktail dresses clicked their heels across the unlit lobby. When a random flashlight sliced through the darkness one could see balloons and other decorations swaying in the darkness.\nThe Buskirk-Chumley Theater lost power Wednesday during a well-awaited fundraiser, darkening the large auditorium -- but not anyone's spirits.\nAfter a severe thunderstorm blew through Bloomington, the fundraiser sponsored by Zeta Tau Alpha sorority looked as if it would be canceled.\nMembers of sororities and fraternities that came together to support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation were left to sit in the dark, chatting happily and hoping for the best. The crowd waited contently, hoping the show would go on.\nAnd after a brief delay Big Man On Campus -- a male beauty pageant put on by sororities and fraternities each fall to raise money to benefit breast cancer education -- did go on.\nZeta Tau Alpha easily exceeded its goal of raising $15,000. Before BMOC was set to begin they collected more than $23,000, better than any other Zeta chapter in the country.\n"The majority of the money we raise all year goes to the breast cancer foundation," said Zeta Philanthropic Chair Ashley Taylor, a junior. "Everyone's been working really hard and doing everything they can to help."\nWhen the pageant was over, a panel of judges representing every sorority chose Alpha Tau Omega junior Brian Bohnenkam as the winner.\nBohnenkamp, who danced to "Low Rider" and "Born to be Wild," played the piano and modeled in a formalwear competition, said winning was "a pretty good feeling."\nThe greek houses involved collected money by way of writing letters and taking donations from friends and family. The houses brought all of their collections together and topped off the year of work with the Big Man On Campus show. Seventeen men representing various fraternities showed their beauty and talent. \nThis year's theme was Harley Davidson and "Leading the pack for breast cancer awareness." Sorority sisters judge the event. \n"I'm so proud of the guys," Taylor said. "No matter what happens tonight, I'd still be happy to send the money to the Foundation, regardless."\nThe night was kicked off with an opening number by the contestants in their biker outfits, followed by the talent contest, then the formal question. Straight No Chaser, an all-male a capella singing group, also appeared during the event. The night ended with awards and a video prepared by Zeta senior Jessi Perkins and her friend, senior Josh Stickler -- an emotional video on breast cancer victims and survivors.\n"A lot of girls in the house have been touched by breast cancer," sophomore Zeta Kelly Andrews said. "We watched the video last night and we were just bawling."\nDanielle Cerretani, a sophomore from Alpha Xi Delta, was proud to participate in Zeta's event. \n"I think the fact that they're doing this is such a great cause," said Cerretani, whose house raised $300. "My mom has breast cancer, and she was so happy to see this happen."\nCerretani was also a coach and an escort for Zeta Beta Tau member Howard Joffe, a sophomore. "If this doesn't go on, I'll be kind of disappointed," she said before the event went off without a hitch. "But they've raised so much money."\nThe Susan G. Komen Foundation was started by Nancy Brinker in memory of her sister Susan, who died of breast cancer.\n"A lot of people think that the foundation is just for research or for finding a cure," sophomore Zeta Whitney Kincaid said. "But while there's always a hope for a cure, it actually encourages education and prevention."\nBohnenkamp, the eventual winner, sat in the front row in his leather motorcycle gloves, planning to do a piano talent number Wednesday night.\n"Even if this doesn't happen tonight, what we've done up until now is what it's all about," Bohnenkamp said. "In the beginning I just really wanted to win, and now I realize the real meaning in it. It's all for a good cause"