Kent State University students perform in the annual Lip Sync contest Saturday night.
(Penell Paglialunga)
KENT, Ohio - While fraternities and sororities are coming under fire for excessive partying, sexual assaults and trashing hotels, Kent State University's Greek organizations gathered Saturday night to help raise $77,000 to benefit the speech and hearing impaired.
The seventh annual Lip Sync contest sponsored by the Delta Zeta sorority featured skits, songs and good fun.
The event was the culmination of a months-long effort that raised $33,000 more than last year, said Taylor Ridenour, a senior from Tallmadge who coordinated it for her sorority.
"It was amazing," she said.
It's the best student-event fundraiser in many years, said Kent State spokesman Eric Mansfield in an email.
Chapter members began raising funds on campus and in Kent since last December, she said. Members of other sororities and fraternities also raised funds.
Efforts included collecting loose change, discount nights at local restaurants, bake sales and other fundraisers.
Members of Kent State's American Sign Language Club held a workshop to teach sign language and provide information on deaf culture.
The fundraising campaign culminated on Saturday with performances by six sororities and 16 fraternities in the Student Center ballroom.
The 900 tickets at $10 each sold out quickly, Mansfield said.
Each organization presented a four- to six-minute skit. They were judged on factors including lip syncing abilities, choreography, creativity and incorporating sign language.
The St. Augustine Signing Choir from Cleveland also performed.
The money raised is given to the Delta Zeta Foundation, which disburses it the Starkey Hearing Foundation, Gallaudet University and The Painted Turtle Camp, Ridenour said.
"We are so thankful to everyone," she said.