IU SING

For almost 50 years, professor Phillip Summers has witnessed first-hand the changes and growth at IU. He has seen traditions come and go but is always impressed by IU Sing.\n"I think it's amazing," Summers said. "Interest has remained strong though all that time."\nThe tradition will continue at 7 p.m. tonight in the IU Auditorium with the first performances of IU Sing 2005, "Livin' Out Loud."\nAccording to the IU Sing Web site, Hoagy Carmichael organized "Showdown," the precursor to IU Sing in the 1920s, which centered around commencement and was a final send-off for graduating seniors.\nIn 1928, a sing-along called "Hail to Old IU" was organized by professor George Schafer and occurred during graduation week.\nThe first official IU Sing, called "University Sing," was held on the steps of the Old Student Building and brought a competitive aspect to the event. \nAfter nine years, the show moved to the IU Auditorium, becoming the two-night competition still held today.\nFor Summers, who first saw the event in the late 1950s as an undergraduate, IU Sing may change from year to year but is always a reflection of the times.\nDuring the 1960s, Summers came back to see the show and saw the political themes of the era utilized in the acts.\n"Many acts were about protests and what was happening in D.C." he said.\nOne such act stood out in Summers' mind as especially clever.\n"A small group of guys did a parody of the Broadway musical 'Camelot.'" Summers said. "They changed the main song to 'Canada.' It was all about going to Canada to get out of the draft."\nMegan Rhamy, adviser of IU Sing, said she agrees that the annual themes of IU Sing reflect larger social changes.\n"A couple years ago as our country went to war we had the theme 'The Adventure Begins,'" she said. "It's not the most direct correlation, but those are the things (the steering committees) are very aware of and think about when choosing a theme."\nThis year's theme was inspired in part by the push for students to vote in the 2004 elections, said steering committee member Katie Hasse.\nRhamy said the event also represents changes at the campus level.\n"The major changes are really reflective of changes we have seen here at IU, like the different demographic of the campus," she said. "A lot more student organizations that haven't been involved in the past want to get involved now."\nSummers said the event was also smaller, reflecting a student population of about 16,000 rather than 40,000. "There were not as many people in the acts, and usually the people involved were not just freshmen," he said. "Now greek groups put new members in the show for brother and sisterhood activities." \nSummers said he recalls another performance category of stand-up singers. This group could move but had to keep one foot stationary.\nSigma Kappa sorority, no longer at IU, left a lasting impression on Summers with one such act.\n"They did the entire act a cappella," he said. "It was called 'Bells of Indiana,' and it started with a four-part harmony that sounded like bells chiming. They were wearing very attractive formal type costumes, and suddenly without moving, their costumes changed.\n"The front row never moved," he said. "It was done so quick and cleverly by people standing behind the front. Each song had a different costume."\nThe show has made such an impression on Summers that he offers extra credit to freshmen in his introductory psychology class who agree to help out with the show.\n"Students write a paper about what they did, the behavior they observed and their reaction to it," he said. "It gives the opportunity to take part in a major campus event."\nThe large scale of IU Sing is what Summers said makes the event unique.\n"It's one of the most fun campus activities that involves a lot of students," he said.\nThough Summers has seen IU Sing change over the five decades he has sat in the audience, he said one thing is the same every year.\n"They filled the auditorium then, and they fill the auditorium now," he said.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Haley Beck at habeck@indiana.edu.