By Abby Rathburn | Staff Writer
Between formal-wear interviews, talent show performances and a choreographed group number, Zeta Tau Alpha’s Big Man On Campus looks like a light-hearted and comedic male pageant show. Beneath the humor of this lies the true heart of Zeta: their philanthropy.
Baylor’s chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha held its fall philanthropy event, Big Man On Campus, to raise money for breast cancer research and awareness Thursday evening at Waco Hall. The event featured 20 male competitors representing their organizations, with Dallas Junior and Kappa Omega Tau representative Joshua Brown taking home the victory.
Portville, California, senior and Zeta’s Vice President of Philanthropy Brenna Galloway said her team has been planning for this event since last May, shortly after the chapter’s spring philanthropy event, Pie-a-Prez.
“I have a committee of almost 40 girls,” Galloway said. “It’s 37 women that are all in Zeta, and I have nine different committees, all with a chair. Truly, I would not be able to do anything if I didn’t have their support, and without them being here, nothing would have gotten done.”
While the months of preparation strengthened the bonds between the girls of Zeta, the event also gave members the opportunity to build relationships with other organizations.
“We’ve really gotten to be friends with all the guys, and all the guys have gotten to be friends with each other, so it’s been sweet to see their connection grow, but also see us become friends with them,” Galloway said. “I feel like now I have 20 more friends on campus that I can say hi to.”
Big Man on Campus, or BMOC, is a national event with chapters across the country hosting their own versions on each of their campuses. However, Galloway said that what makes Baylor’s chapter stand out is how successful it has become.
“We sold 500 tickets, and so a big thing about our Big Man on Campus is that it’s huge … we also are one of the top fundraising chapters in Zeta nationally,” Galloway said. “It’s just cool that we’re able to have this large-scale event, but also that the Baylor student body is able to support us as well in that,” Galloway said.
The support for Big Man on Campus reflects a larger fundraising effort made by the organization. This past summer, Fort Worth senior and Zeta President Ella Crenshaw attended a Zeta national convention where Baylor’s chapter was recognized.
“They gave awards to all of the chapters for all of the money that they raised, and over the last, I think it was the biennium, we raised $175,000,” Crenshaw said.
“Think Pink,” a Zeta trademark since 2004, represents the organization’s overall commitment to breast cancer education and awareness efforts. According to the chapter’s website, over 25 million pink ribbons have been passed out to honor the lives of the survivors and the lives lost to breast cancer.
To bring the cause into the event itself, all the judges chosen were breast cancer survivors. Additionally, several contestants also brought their own personal connections to the cause.
“My mom has had breast cancer twice, so to be able to have the opportunity to raise money for awareness and advocate for research has been awesome,” San Antonio senior and Alpha Phi contestant Max Mulvehill said in an Instagram post.
Many others involved had similar personal connections.
“Unfortunately, my junior year of high school, my mom did pass away from cancer, and so it’s been something that I’ve been able to pour into while also honoring my family,” Galloway said.
Crenshaw said she hopes the purpose and mission of Zeta’s chapter will extend beyond those involved in producing the event. As Crenshaw hoped, Friendswood sophomore attendee Anna Henry said the event really resonated with her.
“I decided to go this year because my mom is actually a Zeta alum, and so ‘Think Pink’ and breast cancer awareness is really close to home, so I thought I would go out and support our local Zeta chapter,” Henry said.
What began as a night of pageant fun and audience laughter ended in something more personal: a way to celebrate Baylor’s community across organizational bounds while bringing attention to a cause that has touched so many lives.
“It does affect one in eight women, and we want to eradicate that, and so much of our money goes directly to the AI early detection technologies,” Crenshaw said.
