Leilani's Story: Derby Days

Leilani Vaiaoga

Sigma Chi ‘Derby Days’ raises money for cancer research

“Two dollars for a burger and one dollar for the dunk tank – it all goes to cancer. research!” That is what students hear when they walk down Greek row. The smell of delicious burgers cooking on the grill and the enjoyment of dunking someone in the dunk tank has been on the front lawn of the Sigma Chi fraternity house this past week, in conjunction with their annual Derby Days Week. Derby Days is a week-long schedule of fun filled events that are held to raise money for the Huntsman Caner Institute.

Senior Kiki Coats is a neighboring Chi Omega to the Sigma Chi’s and buys a burger everyday to help with the cause. “The burgers are so good,” said Coats. “It’s only two bucks and the money that they make goes to charity.”

Every fraternity and sorority has their own philanthropy that they support and raise money for during the entire year, until their donation at the end of the spring semester. Sigma Chi selected the Huntsman Cancer Institute to raise money for, in order to help fund cancer research at the University of Utah. The research facility was founded and named after philanthropist and fellow Sigma Chi alumni Jon Huntsman, Sr.

“We wanted to donate money on behalf of our house to the Huntsman Cancer Institute because we believe in their research,” said Sam Christensen, Sigma Chi President. “All of us have had family members close to us that have been effected by and have died from cancer, so it’s definitely a personal tie that we have to this certain philanthropy.”

Although selling burgers on the lawn and getting people to donate a dollar to do the dunk tank brings in pocket change for the Sigs, it is the infamous “Date Auction” that rakes in the big bucks. The “Date Auction” is the night that the fraternity auctions off some of the Sigma Chi’s in return for a date with whoever he is sold to.

Sigma Chi Philanthropy Chair Nik Sokolik, witnesses every year the outrageous amount of money bidders shell out to buy a certain Sigma Chi. “It’s typically girls that bid, and they get out of control. Guys are sold for no less than $100 almost every time and the bidding war between the girls is fun to watch.” In past years the “Date Auction” has been the one event that they make the most money from. Last spring, money raised from the “Date Auction” went well over $1,000.

Ruthy Stephens, a member of the Alpha Chi sorority has participated in the auctions every year and enjoys buying Sigs. “It’s so fun, it my favorite event of the week. I usually buy at least three guys and the money that I pay goes to charity, so it’s all in good fun.” Stephens plans on donating $500 to Derby Days to help with the fundraising.

Other smaller events during the day consist of sporting events such as a three-on-three basketball tournament and a softball game that rewards winning teams with a trophy. Also a competitive flag football game between the sororities out on the Quad always draws a ton of spectators.

Derby Days participation comes a lot from the Greek community, but especially from the sororities. Every year the fraternity awards their “Derby Girl” honor to one girl who has demonstrated exceptional participation, spirit and service to Derby Days. She competes in small challenges that if she wins get her the most points in the end.

Last year’s “Derby Girl” Kiera Radman said, “I definitely got most of my points when we had to compete to see who knew more about Sigma Chi- now that was easy. The pie eating contest was also fun, but I hate whipped cream so I lost that competition.”

Raising money for a good cause and shedding a positive light on the Sigma Chi’s are the main reason why the Sigs put on Derby Days. The negative portrayal of fraternities in the early 1970’s movie “Animal House” and the current hit television show “Greek”, is a crippling stereotype that the Sigma Chi’s are trying to discourage.

“We just want to show the community that we are smart and involved in our community,” said Christensen. “We want to raise money for Huntsman and get our name out there so that people will know us and remember us for the good things that we do and not just the bad.”

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