February 18, 2011

Rockin’ Against Multiple Sclerosis hosted the second round of Rock-It preliminary competitions to a sold-out crowd Wednesday evening at The Blue Note.

RAMS is a month-long philanthropy project that benefits the local Multiple Sclerosis institute through raising awareness and money. MU raised $78,000 for the MS Institute of Mid-Missouri in 2010.

Wednesday’s event was a lip-syncing competition between various fraternities and sororities. Participants performed dance numbers to popular songs from today and past decades. Some routines focused on choreography, while others focused on comedy.

“The atmosphere has been so great,” Rock-It Committee member Greta Bender said. “The fans just love watching the houses participate and their friend’s houses as well.”

Participating organizations have been competing against each other in a point-based system throughout the month of February. Points have been awarded based on amount of money raised, event attendance and community service hours donated. Wednesday’s Rock It Prelims accounted for up to 100 of the 542 possible points. About a dozen acts performed in the second round of Rock-It prelims.

“Every single act is different,” Bender said. “There are so many different themes of performances — Grease, Pop-Icons, Burlesque — the whole spectrum.”

Among the performers were members of Gamma Phi Beta, who performed a ’90s themed number near the end of the evening.

“We’re kickin’ it old school,” junior Megan Frank of Gamma Phi Beta said. “We do this every year. We also participate in Homecoming and Greek Week, but I like this. It’s more laid back than other events.”

The sisters of Sigma Sigma Sigma have been preparing for their performance for about two weeks.

“With all the cheering going on, it’s great to see them perform today,” sophomore DeLyssa Allen of Sigma Sigma Sigma said. “A lot of people live with this absolutely horrible disease. You put yourself in their shoes. It’s important to help out, and this is a great cause that so many people can get involved in.”

The event is significant on a personal level for junior Ryan Briggs of Pi Kappa Alpha, who has a family member with Multiple Sclerosis.

“It’s a good cause,” Briggs said. “It’s fun. It’s important to recognize that there are tons of great causes out there we can support. This is just one of them.”

The final round of Rock-It is at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

“Everyone gets so passionate with Rock-It,” Bender said. “I love the atmosphere — just watching from the audience, watching everyone come together for the same cause.”

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