By Rebekah Wrobleske, Reporter
The 21 men from nine different fraternities across campus are preparing for their time to shine at Zeta Tau Alpha’s fourth annual Big Man on Campus at 7:30 p.m. tonight in the Barfield Drawing Room.
BMOC is a male pageant dedicated to raising money for Breast Cancer Awareness. Selected men from the fraternities at Baylor University will participate as they compete against each other for the title of Mr. Big Man on Campus. They will be judged by three breast cancer survivors.
“The judges judge them on what they like the most, whoever looks the best, acts the best, is confident, is funny and entertaining. It’s on a scale from 1-10 and the judges will hold up their score cards with the score of each participant,” Simi Valley, Calif., junior, Becca Langford said.
The contestants will compete in a series of categories including a talent portion, a choreographed dance and a Pink-Out formal wear.
Langford mentioned that this year the new talent portion has replaced the pick-up line portion from last year.
“We gave them a chance to show who they are representing and who they are fighting for. We give them a chance represent their fraternity,” Chicago junior, Brooke Olenski said.
There will be three crowned winners. Mr. Big Man on Campus will be the first place winner and will be awarded with $100. The second place, and runner-up, will be awarded with $50 and the Mr. Congeniality will be awarded with $75. Mr. Congeniality is the title of the young man who has individually raised the most money leading up to the pageant.
“These guys have been raising money all over campus and it’s just really cool because it brings campus wide recognition,” Olenski said, “Especially since we have it during October which is Breast Cancer Awareness and Education month so it’s just really cool that we get an entire month to dedicate the planning of this huge event.”
The ladies of ZTA are able to make BMOC a free event that is open to everyone after receiving sponsorship from seven corporations including: NotAlone Cancer Ministry, The Carroll Family Trust, Tea2Go, Honorable Scott Sanford, and The Mix Cafe.
“One or two of our sponsors are from girls in our chapter’s family businesses. It’s really cool seeing the families of the girls in chapter getting involved as well,” Olenski said, “And it’s not their family income, it’s their business, their company donating.”
From the sponsors to what each contestant has raised to profit shares, donations and the sales from selling BMOC T-shirts, ZTA has raised more than double from what they made last year with a goal of $12,000. The T-shirt will also be sold for 10 dollars at the door.
“The fact that we have a philanthropy that everyone wants to participate in and the fact that we have an entire month dedicated to that philanthropy is just so rewarding that we get to raise awareness and money for that,” Olenski said.
