Rockin’ in $178K

It was a last-minute decision for junior Steve Rothkopf: ukulele over guitar.

Along with the nearly $12,500 he raised, the switch helped Rothkopf win Big Man on Campus Friday night. The event, put on by Zeta Tau Alpha, brought in a total of $178,000 for breast cancer awareness and research, $18,000 more than Zeta’s goal.

Dressed like Jason Mraz in a fedora and T-shirt, Rothkopf, a member of Theta Chi, performed the singer’s “I’m Yours.” Rothkopf said he had planned to play the guitar, but decided the ukulele would be more effective.

“It only took me 20 minutes to learn,” Rothkopf said. “It’s basically four chords. It wasn’t tough.”

BMOC featured 22 acts from different fraternities and one from the Evans Scholars. The theme for this year’s show was “Rockin’ Out Against Breast Cancer,” so the men performed a group dance dressed as various entertainers from Jimi Hendrix to Jimmy Buffet with members of Zeta.

For the talent competition, most men chose acoustic versions of popular songs, but other acts included a song medley, a dance routine and a drum solo.

Rothkopf said he was a little nervous before he went on stage, even though singing is his strength.

“I was more nervous about dancing in the beginning,” Rothkopf said. “I’m a vocal major in the Jacobs School of Music, but I’m always a little nervous.”

But while Rothkopf was the official winner, the biggest applause belonged to speaker Adrienne Harlow, a Purdue University junior and breast cancer survivor, who received a standing ovation.

Harlow was also one of the five judges for the competition, but she first spoke to the crowd before the performances started, and said she was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 19. She said she had never talked to such a large audience before.

“I was kind of nervous at first, but I could only see the first row because the light was so bright, so it was fine,” Harlow said.

In an effort to spread awareness about breast cancer, Harlow is involved with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and has told her story in Seventeen magazine and on CBS’s “The Early Show.”

At BMOC, Harlow encouraged women to perform breast self-examinations, and warned men that they, too, can get breast cancer.

Freshman Jenna Fischer said she thought Harlow was a solid addition to the night.
“I thought that was the cherry on top of the show,” Fischer said. “She was a good way to get everyone aware of cancer.”

The show, emceed by 2007 BMOC winner Nate Schnader and 2007 Zeta Philanthropy Chairs Sara Wortinger and Ashley Spataro, also showcased Straight No Chaser and InMotion Dance Company. But after all the acts were over and the awards handed out, Zeta announced the $178,000 total, a $41,000 increase from last year.

Zeta Philanthropy Co-chairs Sondra Polan and Jennifer Sondhi had no idea they had shattered their goal.

“We were completely shocked,” Polan said. “The total is a surprise. Only the treasurer knows. The treasurer stayed up all night counting money.”

Harlow said she cried a little after the announcement of the amount because it was so surprising.

“A few of the judges said Zeta raised so much last year, and they didn’t think they could top it,” Harlow said. “I know it’s going to go to a good cause and to the people who need it.”

While BMOC was a night of entertainment, the goal of ending breast cancer was clearly in the minds of the audience members. Many wore pink ribbons.

Rothkopf said he enjoyed bonding with brothers from different fraternities and the members of Zeta, but being involved with such a huge philanthropy event was the most fulfilling aspect.

“It was definitely one of my best experiences at IU,” Rothkopf said. “The biggest thing was helping so many people and being part of such a huge fundraiser that touches so many people.”