IU Sing Competition keeps tradition alive with song

When the curtain fell on the last act during Saturday’s portion of IU Sing, “Pop! All that was pop. All that is pop. All that will pop,” the pop stopped for another year, and the IU Student Foundation directors and committee members took the stage.

It was a long two days and a grueling six months. Members thanked each other, their directors and the song leaders and performers for their “talent and commitment to keeping IU Sing one of IU’s longest traditions alive,” one steering committee member said.

In its 78th year, IU Sing included 20 acts, organized, created and performed by student organizations with more than 3,000 people involved in the entire production. Saturday marked the second and final night. Seven “Division A” acts, containing more than 82 participants, completed the line-up.

But the auditorium was packed both nights. There was assigned seating and the audience was lively. IUSF Steering Committee member and senior Vanessa Pinna attributes this to ticket sales, which she said were “inspiring.”

Ticket sales increased this year despite tickets costing $20 each night. With this being the first year for the philanthropic donation, however, IUSF members said the price was worth it.

“This year’s show is much more modernized,” Pinna said. “They’re not using a band, they’re using recorded music. And there is the philanthropy award, so any single philanthropy on campus could have benefited.”

Gamma Phi Beta and Sigma Nu took overall first place Saturday for “American Love Story: Gladiator Style.”

Grateful and excited for their win, the four song leaders shared laughs and pictures following Saturday’s show.

“I’ve always been a huge fan of American Gladiator on ESPN,” Sigma Nu song leader and junior Mitch Garrett said. “So as soon as I thought of pop, ’80s music, the ’80s, gladiators, I knew our skit right away.” 

Missy Kuklenski was in town for Chi Omega’s Mom’s Weekend with her daughter, freshman Paige Kuklenski, who performed Saturday.

“It was excellent; very, very well done,” Missy Kuklenski said. “The timing was perfect and the Straight No Chaser in between was a huge surprise and very, very fun.”

The judges were equally enthusiastic. IUSF asked five honorary guests to judge each performance on things such as musicality, entertainment and incorporation of pop. 

Dean of Students Pete Goldsmith sat amidst the crowd, reviewing acts and scribbling notes that were then collected and figured into the final, overall score. He said he really enjoyed all of the talent displayed.

“I’m honored and delighted to be here,” Goldsmith said. “It was great to watch how folks took the theme and thought about the theme and incorporated into the creation of the act.”

Kappa Kappa Gamma and Theta Chi won overall first place Friday night. Their act, “Twilight,” put a twist on the best-selling novel by placing characters Edward and Jacob in a dance-off.

Other, more specific awards, such as the “People’s Choice Award,”  which was decided by the amount of money placed in each act’s sack in the auditorium lobby; or the George E. Schlafer award, given in honor of the “father” of IU Sing; helped recognize a wider variety of acts.

Kappa Alpha Theta and Phi Gamma Delta’s “Saved by the Bell: Bayside’s Best” on Friday and Alpha Xi Delta and Phi Kappa Psi’s “Saving Woodstock” on Saturday each took home several of those awards.

Almost everyone in the auditorium agreed it was a lot of hard work. But it was worth it.  
“It was great,” said Gamma Phi Beta song leader and junior Caitlin Meyer. “I wouldn’t change it for anything. It’s the biggest tradition here. Especially for the greek system, it just brings all the houses closer together.”