Cate Traywick
Arts and Entertainment Editor
Theta Pi, in collaboration with Theta Kappa Phi and Sigma Nu, held a beauty pageant — the great “Big Man on Campus” competition — pitting the gentlemen of Sewanee Greek Life against each other through a series of contests, questions and even a talent portion. More than a hundred students huddled underneath the “Theta Pi Wants a Big Man” banner adorning Sigma Nu and cheered on their picks. The ultimate goal: to find the “Big Man on Campus” and raise 2,500 dollars for Saint Jude’s Children’s hospital.
Sewanee used its democratic power to choose FIJI Rob Adams (C ‘29) as their Big Man. He owes his win to his three-minute-long drum solo. Don’t worry, reader; he kept on going after the crowd begged for more.
It was this solo that took the cake for the judges, with 10s across the board. When it was announced that Rob had won the judges choice award, earning him several fun hats, the crowd erupted in cheers, and a “Rob!” chant. It was no surprise that Rob also won crowd choice, as well as money raised, thanks to his fraternity brothers that were dedicated to keeping the donations under his name in first place.
When asked about this incredible and inspiring honor, Rob was humble. “It was a great time…it made me really appreciate all my friends who I love at Sewanee.” Sewanee’s Big Man’s sentiment echoed the theme of the afternoon: Sewanee togetherness.
But the crowd was not only vocal for the Big Men; they also raised almost 5,000 dollars for Saint Jude’s. In the back was a table selling “bid” paddles for five dollars, with options to choose a paddle with a Big Man contestant’s face on it, and the money contributing to the Saint Jude fund. These last minute sales made up nearly a third of the funds raised and added a fun, interactive component to the proceedings.
In the weeks preceding the event, each fraternity was listed on the fundraising page, with a section for Phi Gamma Delta, Sigma Nu, Phi Society, Delta Tau Delta, Lambda Chi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Order, Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Chi Psi. From Instagram stories to posters all over campus asking ‘Is This Your Big Man?’event coordinators and Sewanee students alike circulated the donation link in hopes of raising money for Saint Jude. Every time someone donated, they would have the opportunity to attribute it to a specific contestant, incentivizing people to pitch in on behalf of their favorite fraternity.
Sarah Beth Smotherman (C ’27), Theta Pi’s community service chair and mastermind behind Big Man, told The Purple, “The student body was overwhelmingly supportive.” The school rallied behind the event, far surpassing the original goal, Smotherman continued, “The fact that we were able to raise almost 5,000 dollars was the best part. I am so proud of our community.”
In addition to raising almost double the original goal, the event did good work in bringing the campus community together, with representatives from Greek organizations across campus, coming together to support their contestants and raise money for a good cause. This sentiment was evident as Big Man continued, after the event, Theta Pi audience member Macy Cheek (C ’29) told The Purple, “It was a great promotion of student unity, all while raising money for charity and being a really fun time.”