Practice makes 'Big Men' perfect

Sorority members swooned and hollered as 20 men from different fraternity chapters moved their bodies in sync to Missy Elliot's "Lose Control" Wednesday night at the Zeta Tau Alpha house.\nZTA was holding a rehearsal for tonight's Big Man On Campus -- the chapter's biggest and "most exciting" philanthropic project, said BMOC Public Relations representative Mandy Johnson.\nFraternity members who are participating in tonight's performance at 7 p.m. in the IU Auditorium will find themselves before an expected crowd of more than 2,500, said BMOC philanthropy chairr Mary Beth Kraft. Their goal is to fill all the seats.\nJunior Dustin Holland, a male participant in BMOC, wore velvet green shorts and bright yellow tights to the practice Wednesday night. \n"They told me it was a dress rehearsal," he said as he stood among his fellow fraternity representatives in sweat pants and T-shirts. "I guess it wasn't."\nThe yellow tights were part of his Buddy the Elf costume, inspired by Will Ferrell's character in the movie, "Elf." All the males in the show were required to pick a movie character to be introduced as during the show to go along with this year's BMOC theme, "Hollywood: Lights, Camera, Action! Against Breast Cancer."\nKip from "Napoleon Dynamite," Ray Charles and Crocodile Dundee were among other characters chosen.\nWhile BMOC is hosted by and includes acts from greek chapters, Johnson said the event definitely "isn't just a greek thing."\nThe entire campus, students and faculty alike, are encouraged to come to the show, not only to be entertained, but also to support a cause.\nLast year, $38,000 was donated to ZTA's national philanthropy, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The goal for this year is $50,000, Johnson said.\nThe money comes not only from tickets to the show ($12 each) but also from selling BMOC T-shirts, business donations and both corporate and private donations.\nThe male participants in the show are required to do fund-raising, too, which serves as a factor in their consideration to be named the Big Man On Campus.\nJohnson likens the "Big Man" selection process, which is judged by ZTA alumni, to the Miss America Competition.\nThe men are given points for their performances in a talent competition, their answers to an impromptu question and their overall participation in the contest. \n"The guys get a kick out of it," Johnson said.\nHolland said he'll be singing and playing a guitar with two of his fraternity brothers for the show. He said he's nervous about the show, but he's looking forward to it. \n"I'm glad to be a part of it," he said.\nHe, like Johnson and Kraft, said all students, even non-greeks, would find the show enjoyable.\n"It's way more entertaining than people think," he said.\nTickets and T-shirts can be bought at the door this evening.