Fraternity eyes 3rd consecutive BMOC talent showcase title

Twenty-three men will try “Saving the World ... One Woman At a Time,” when they come to the IU Auditorium stage Friday, with hopes to be crowned the Big Man
on Campus.

BMOC, which begins at 7 p.m., is Zeta Tau Alpha’s annual philanthropy event, a talent show to raise money and awareness for breast cancer.

Tickets — which can be purchased at the door — are $13, and all proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen Survivor Recognition Program, “Think Pink” awareness program and the IU Medical Center. Tickets can also be purchased online on the IU Auditorium website.

Straight No Chaser, InMotion and Ladies First will perform at the event, and each contestant has between two and three minutes to perform.

“We get all of the campus involved,” junior and BMOC chairwoman Kalina Dalecki said. “Breast cancer affects everyone, whether it’s in your family, a friend or you’ve taken part in a breast cancer walk or you just wear one of our pink ribbons.”

Theta Chi has won four of the last five BMOC titles. If they win this year, it will be the third year in a row.

“We’ve kind of established a legacy,” BMOC contestant and junior Dustin Silverman said. “People have been coming up this year and asking us how we’re doing. They’re really interested in it.”

Silverman is performing with Theta Chi’s house band The Extension, playing the piano and singing lead vocals for their rendition of Tal Bachman’s “She’s So High”
Silverman said Theta Chi has a goal of raising $12,000.

The brothers, he said, have been supportive by soliciting donations from family and friends, contacting businesses and advertising throughout campus. Silverman is also the only contestant who has his own Facebook page regarding BMOC.

“This is important to us,” 2009 winner and junior Tyler Webb said. “This is something we strive to do well in. We’re, for some reason or another, good at fundraising and enjoy doing it.”

Webb will be playing guitar for Silverman’s act.

“Winning was a lot of different things,” Webb said. “You have your moment of fame, but it’s a very rewarding feeling to know you did something to make a difference.”

Though Dalecki said Zeta doesn’t have a specific fundraising goal this year, she hopes to raise more than last year.

“It’s just basically a smorgasbord of talents,” Dalecki said. “It’s something fun to do on a Friday night, and you support a good cause.”