You've seen the flyers and the Sigma Kappa girls in their event t-shirts, but are you going to tonight's charity event Rock Steady? Well according to the sorority, you should be.
The event is a Battle of the Bands, and the proceeds will benefit Alzheimer's research. Tickets are $6 in advance and $8 at the door. The party starts at 9 p.m. and will last until 1 a.m. in the Houston Hall of Flags.
The Battle of the Bands will feature two dance performances and five different bands.
First is the Quaker Girls dance team, who regularly perform their routines at basketball games and charity functions, including Relay for Life.
Strictly Funk, the other student dance group performing, describes its style on its Web site as challenging "the boundaries of conventional hip-hop, funk and jazz dance and expression."
And the music at the scene will also be primarily student-driven.
Two of the bands are comprised of fraternity brothers. Undergraduates from Alpha Epsilon Pi formed Gus and the Sheehas, while some Sigma Alpha Mu members are playing as Grandpa and the Rockers, a band that also performed last year.
The Mike Gardner Project features College sophomore Mike Gardner on the guitar and piano as well as his friends Mark Scafini and Dan Berkery from University of the Arts on bass and drums, respectively.
Penn swim coach Brendan Gallagher's band will be playing, as will the Mask and Wig Band, which freshmen might remember from the all-male comedy troupe's show during New Student Orientation.
College senior and Rock Steady chairwoman Suzanne Kreider explained how different the event is this year.
"This is the first year we're doing it on campus instead of in a bar. We wanted to shift the focus back to philanthropy and to the school community, so that everyone can attend," she said.
She emphasized that although most freshmen women are not allowed to attend sorority functions in the fall unless they are academic or philanthropic, they are allowed into Rock Steady as long as alcohol is not served.
Kreider concluded by noting that while there are many great philanthropic events at Penn, what sets this one apart is how many different groups are involved in making it a success, from Greek organizations to performing groups to donors.
College senior and Sigma Kappa chapter president Katie Cowling explained, "My family is personally affected by Alzheimer's. Because of that, this is a really important event for me, but beyond that, everyone should come for a chance to party and give back."
