Fraternities and sororities will strut their stuff at the sixth annual Stroll Off hosted by Phi Sigma Sigma and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Stroll Off, an annual dance competition between sororities and fraternities, will be on April 8 at 8 p.m. in the Miniaci Performing Arts Center to raise money for Autism Speaks in honor of Autism Awareness Month.
Autism Speaks is an autism advocacy organization that raises awareness about autism and sponsors autism research.
Last year, Stroll Off raised almost $2,500 for Autism Speaks, and, according to Tamera Taber, junior biology major and president of Phi Sigma Sigma, this year’s goal is to raise $5,000. If a Stroll Off team can raise $100 before the competition, an extra point will be added to their performance score.
At Stroll Off, each Greek organization will perform a synchronized 5 to 8 minute dance. The fraternity and sorority with the best performances will each win a trophy. Judges, who have yet to be determined, will evaluate performances based on creativity, synchronization, choreography, costume and enthusiasm.
Taber said that the purpose of Stroll Off is to raise awareness about living with autism.
“If you ask people on campus what [autism] means, they’ll probably tell you it’s a child with a disability,” she said. “But autism is a spectrum.”
Gabriella McCue, junior sport and recreation management major and philanthropy chair for Phi Sigma Sigma, said the hosts wanted this year’s theme to have something to do with children. This year’s Stroll Off will have a Dr. Seuss theme, based on the Dr. Seuss quote, “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”
Musicians will perform at Stroll Off, but the acts have yet to be confirmed. During intermission, a representative from Autism Speaks will address attendees.
McCue, whose sister was diagnosed with autism when she was 1 year old, said that there’s a need for organizations like Autism Speaks because people don’t recognize autism early on in an individual’s life.
“[It’s] an organization that donates to the research and makes people aware that this is something that needs intervention and support for not only those diagnosed with autism, but also their families,” she said.
McCue said that there are different ranges of autism.
“Some people are verbal, and some aren’t,” she said. “For some people, it’s a social disability, and for some it’s learning. There’s definitely a wide range of what autism really is. It’s much more than just what is on the surface.”
Taber said that there’s a divide between the Interfraternity Council, the Panhellenic Council, and the Unified Greek Council, but Stroll Off brings the NSU community and the Greek community together.
“A lot of other Greek events have only Greeks attending, but this is one event that people who aren’t involved in Greek life come to,” she said. “It’s a fun event.”
Phi Sigma Sigma will also collaborate with Dainty’s Nails & Pedispa to sell manicures on April 6 from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. in the Don Taft University Center to raise money for Autism Speaks.
Admission to Stroll Off is free for NSU students. Tickets for non-NSU students are $5. VIP tickets are $20 and include special seating and a reception with food and dessert. Tickets can be purchased at the event or before the event from Phi Sigma Sigma and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. members.
For more information about Stroll Off, contact Taber at tt618@nova.edu.
Photo Credit: T. Taber
