As the sun came up and the teams filled Hollinger Field, coordinator Robert Zebrowski along with the brothers of Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity, “The Skulls,” geared up to get their second Annual Turkey Bowl underway.With seven teams competing and a hot turkey dinner at stake, both old and new Greek rivalries filled the air.
Nov. 10 and 11, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., at $5.00 per person and up to eight people on a team, the five versus five flag football tournament was a go. All proceeds from the event went directly to Camp Dreamcatcher.
Camp Dreamcatcher is the foundation sponsored by the Greek community here at West Chester University where money is raised to help children and their families that are both infected and affected by the HIV/AIDS virus.
Last year, a bank sponsored the event and matched what the Skulls had earned, allowing over $1,000 to be donated to the foundation. This year the Skulls hoped to raise at least $600.
“Last year the campus came together and this year we hoped to do the same thing,” fourth-year student and President of Phi Kappa Sigma Todd Deiter said. “It shows that the campus cares about raising money for children with HIV and AIDS.”
Many teams competed over the weekend. The teams included Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Pi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Delta Zeta, Delta Delta Alpha, and the Inter-Greek Council. In third place was Sigma Pi, in second place was Sigma Alpha Epsilon and the winners of the Boston Market Turkey Dinner were the brothers of Pi Kappa Phi.
During the spring semester of 2006, Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity underwent a massive member re-organization, leaving the Skulls with only four brothers. With a year and a half of hard work and dedication, the brothers of Phi Kappa Sigma are back to 40 active members.
Last year, they were honored nationally with the Chapter Excellence Award and honored by the Inter-Greek Council with the Most Improved Chapter Award. The Skulls also managed to snag the Most Creative Program Award for their outstanding Turkey Bowl.
“One thing we preach is ‘Once a Phi Kapp, always a Phi Kapp,'” second-year student and Skulls Treasurer Justin Striano said. “This means once you’re out of college, it doesn’t mean it’s over.”
Although this event was held to raise money for Camp Dreamcatcher, that is not all the men of Phi Kappa Sigma donate towards. Students around campus can expect to hear more about “SKULL FEST,” which will be held Feb. 22, 2008, in Sykes Ballrooms.
This hardcore punk show, featuring seven bands and coordinated by second-year student Joe Gagnon, will raise money for Phi Kappa Sigma’s National philanthropy, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The seven bands showcasing are Simon Pure, 74 Green Lights, Under the Gun, A Motion Picture, Your Funeral, Just this Once, and The Scenic.
WCU third-year student, brother of the Skulls, and member of Just This Once, Shawn Williams said, “This will probably be one of our bigger shows and it will be a good experience for us.”
WCU students both on- and off-campus can keep their eyes pealed for the many events and exciting activities the brothers of Phi Kappa Sigma will have in the future.
Jessica Todd-Marrone is a third-year student majoring in international relations with a minor in journalism. She can be reached at JT608859@wcupa.edu.