Men and women will come face to face to determine which is the greater sex at The University of Memphis next week.
The Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity’s Tennessee Sigma chapter is hosting Battle of the Sexes this Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Mike Rose Theatre.
Matt Griffin, the fraternity’s philanthropy chair and a communications major at The U of M, said the idea was born after he interned at FM 100.
“Ron Olson and Steve Conley, radio personalities from FM 100, will host the event,” he said. “The format will be like the radio game ‘Battle of the Sexes,’ in which males are asked typical female questions, and females are asked typical male questions.”
Each of the 10 fraternities and eight sororities will choose three representatives to participate in the battle. The first round will be the question round, but Griffin said the second round will be more like the show Fear Factor.
“They will be doing some really crazy stuff, but nothing as gross as eating worms,” Griffin said.
What the contestants will be doing, however, will remain a secret until the show.
The show will benefit the fraternity’s national philanthropy effort, the Children’s Miracle Network, a non-profit organization consisting of an alliance of 170 hospitals across North America dedicated to raising funds for treating children’s diseases. The Children’s Miracle Network has raised more than $2.2 billion through its year-round fundraising efforts and helps 17 million children annually, according to the group’s Web site.
Taylor Sargent, president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and junior accounting major, said choosing the beneficiary was easy.
The U of M Sigma chapter, composed of 33 active members, is celebrating its 50th anniversary on campus this year, but this is the first charity effort the fraternity has sponsored in a while.
“I’m not sure how long it’s been, but it’s the first in a long time,” Sargent said.
The goal of the fundraiser is to raise $2,500 for the Network. Considering the entry fee for every competing fraternity and sorority is $50, Griffin said they are already well on their way to achieving that goal.
The charity is not the only group who will benefit from the Battle of the Sexes.
For the audience, there will be several door prizes, and the victorious fraternity or sorority will receive a $200 gift certificate to Gill’s Bar and Grill. The loudest fraternity or sorority will also receive a spirit award.
“There will also be a sort of post-party at Gill’s for those who want to go,” Griffin said.
Although the event will specifically pit fraternities against sororities, Griffin said all students are invited.
Tickets are $5 from any of the SAE brothers and $6 at the door the day of the show.
For information or tickets, the SAE house phone number is 452-4524.
