Delta Gamma's Anchor Splash benefits Service for Sight
Delta Gamma created Service for Sight to aid the visually impaired.
Published Sept. 22, 2009
The events for Delta Gamma's Anchor Splash, which benefits Service for Sight, ended Sunday with The Plunge. The week's events also included the Beautiful Eyes Contest and a lecture by Lisa Ling.
Director of Anchor Splash Brittany Shumate said the Beautiful Eyes Contest is when each fraternity involved with Anchor Splash decorates a cup with its letters and a picture of a member's eyes. Money is donated into the cups all throughout the week. It has helped to raise a couple hundred dollars in the past.
"All the money gets donated to Service for Sight," Shumate said.
On Sept. 16, Lisa Ling spoke at Jesse Hall. Shumate said Delta Gamma tries to bring speakers who will promote the four core values of MU to campus.
"She talked about her experiences in the field and how they shaped her life," Shumate said.
Sunday's events included a synchronized swimming contest, a diving contest and a T-shirt relay. Competitors were from participating fraternities.
The synchronized swimming performances started with a dance portion.
The men of Delta Upsilon performed to music from "The Lion King," dressed in leopard print outfits.
FarmHouse members, dressed in pink cowboy hats and cutoff jeans, danced along to Miley Cyrus songs.
The men of Lambda Chi Alpha threw the tops of their bathing suits toward the judges after they began the swimming portion of their routine.
Delta Gamma sophomore Erin Sullivan was a coach for Phi Kappa Alpha. She said she had been helping the pledges with their routine for about a week.
"It's a good way for them to get to know our house," Sullivan said.
For the T-shirt relay, a swimmer had to put on the shirt the previous swimmer was wearing before they could begin their leg of the race.
Two by two, fraternities raced against each other until there were only two houses left.
The final race of the T-shirt relay had Phi Kappa Alpha competing against FarmHouse. Pi Kappa Alpha came from behind in the last leg to win the competition.
Afterward, a number of Pi Kappa Alpha members jumped into the pool in celebration.
Delta Gamma freshman Karrie Dutton said the afternoon was really fun and exciting.
"It was great to see all the participants having fun to benefit Service for Sight," Dutton said.
The diving contest included one representative from each fraternity. Competitors were judged on creativity and splash.
Shumate said in order to participate, fraternities had to pay a $75 entry fee. Donations came from private sponsors, members and alumnae of Delta Gamma and various businesses in downtown Columbia, all to benefit Service for Sight.
"We try and collect reading and sunglasses for those who can't afford them," Shumate said.
Shumate said last year a portion of the funds raised was donated to a sister of a Delta Gamma member who lost her eyesight in an accident.