Battling it out on the mic for charity

Good music for a good cause is the underlying theme of Saturday's IU Battle of the Bands from 2:30 to 8 p.m. in Dunn Meadow. The free event is in collaboration with and will follow the "Jill Behrman Run for the Endzone" with donations gladly accepted. All donations will go towards supporting Jill's House, a cancer recovery center that provides a place for cancer patients to receive therapy and rest after their treatments. Forest Outdoor Adventure and floor 4B will be co-chairing the event. Junior David Hosei, Forest resident advisor in charge of the event, conceptualized the battle based on the success of a similar event that took place last year in Willkie for one of its residents with breast cancer. "The reason we're so dedicated to the event is that we continue to support the Behrman family in their situation and continuing to raise awareness about safety on campus and also in continued support of Jill's House and their mission," Hosei said. He said the event promises to provide a fun, relaxing time with great entertainment with Laborius Clef, Three Minute Mile, Run of the Mill, Blue Moon Revue and Johnzo West. "(These are) the best bands in Bloomington; I guarantee that," Hosei said.

Ladies First will be performing after the bands are finished, while the results of the competition are being tallied. Judges include representatives from local music store Karma records, and others. "I'm excited. I think it's a really good cause, and I think it's a way for people who don't want to get up early and run to still get involved," freshman Claire Tramm said. "It's nice when you have a fun event associated with such a good cause." Hosei said Forest residents like Tramm have played integral roles in the planning of the event. Senior David Hahn, vice president of the event, played in last year's competition. It was his positive experience with the first one, he said, that spurred his involvement in this activities. "I think all IU students should come out because there's going to be a really good show with really good bands and it's a great cause," Hahn said. "Plus it's outside -- it's going to be a fun time." Much of the money raised by the event will go to Jill's House, which according to its Web site, http://www.indiana.edu/~jshouse, is "a temporary, home-like residence for patients undergoing outpatient therapy at the Indiana University Proton Therapy facility in Bloomington…the arboreal Bloomington environment is more conducive to outpatient quality of life, an important factor in successful therapy." Hosei said he was thrilled to plan Battle of the Bands because his effort would indirectly benefit an organization like Jill's House. "Above all," Hosei emphasized, "I want to make a positive impact on the lives of others at IU.