Sigma Delta Tau will hold its first annual XY Factor event on Oct. 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Performance Theatre of the Don Taft University Center to raise funds for Jewish Women International and Prevent Child Abuse America.
Sigma Delta Tau President Kelly Harrison, senior nursing major, said the national Sigma Delta Tau sorority is working to set up programs to encourage safe dating on college campuses. Jewish Women International, an organization that works to empower women, has partnered with the Sigma Delta Tau national sorority to put on these programs at different college campuses across the U.S. The XY Factor is Sigma Delta Tau’s contribution to stopping domestic violence.
“[This event] is really important to us because we’ve heard stories of not only our sisters, but of people on our campus that are involved in violent relationships where men and women alike don’t realize that they’re in an unsafe relationship, whether it’s that of excessive jealousy or control,” Harrison said.
Vice President of Programming for Sigma Delta Tau Vanessa Duboulay, junior political science major, said the event is a girls vs. guys competition and the teams will consist of Greeks, athletes and graduate assistants.
Attendees can expect to not only learn about different types of domestic violence, but also have fun and see that raising money for a cause is important while having a good time.
“You’re going to be able to see people come out of their shells if they haven’t seen someone in their organization in that type of setting before, friendly competition and the unity of the women against the men,” Duboulay said.
The teams will compete in a series of four to five different challenges and competitions. Some are question challenges, and others are physical challenges, including dizzy bat, minute-to-win-it-style games, Family Feud activities, opposite-sex clothing changes, and an impromptu comedy bit.
“There’s going to be a lot of activities and a lot of interaction with the public,” said Duboulay. “We made sure the teams are distributed with participants from different organizations and different populations on campus. It’s going to be cool.”
Buckets will be available for each team during the event for attendees to donate and support either team. The winning team will be determined by who raises the most money, as well as who gets the most points during the competition.
Attendees cannot directly participate in the competition but can assist the teams. To be a participant in the XY Factor, interested students can contact any sister in Sigma Delta Tau.
The XY Factor is open to everyone and admission is free. However, Sigma Delta Tau will be selling VIP tickets for $10, which includes food before the event and front-row seating. There are also $15 tickets if attendees would also like a bottle of purple OPI nail polish that supports the Jewish Women International’s Girls Achieve Grapeness campaign.
Tickets will be sold from noon to 1 p.m. every day from Oct. 20 to Oct. 23 in the UC Spine. During these times, the sorority will also host a teddy bear drive. Students can donate new or gently used teddy bears for Prevent Child Abuse America. The bears will go to the local sheriff’s office and given to children in distress.
Harrison said she encourages everyone to come or contact the sorority to donate.
For more information, contact Philanthropy Chair Sidney Taylor at st927@nova.edu. To donate online visit gofundme.com/ercaxo.
