A capella groups united for aid

The lights dimmed low and the singers took the stage. Percussion sounds filled the room, but there were no drums, only the voices of the a cappella performers.

All five of the university's a cappella groups came together Thursday night in the Scrounge to raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims.

The concert was sponsored by Phi Sigma Pi and the D-#Sharps#, and included the Golden Blues, Deltones, Y-Chromes and Vocal Point.

The crowd of approximately 200 students listened as each group brought different energy to the stage, whether covering songs by John Legend or John Lennon.

Junior Zach Schafer, president of Phi Sigma Pi, said he helped organize the concert because he wanted to help hurricane vicitms.

"Since the hurricane hit more than five weeks ago, people tend to lose interest," he said. "People need to remember the victims."

Junior Elyssa Krampel, a member of both Phi Sigma Pi and the D-#Sharps#, said she wanted to get the two groups involved to encourage students not to forget the victims of Katrina.

"This is an easy way to help out the victims of Katrina," Krampel said.

Schafer said the money collected went to the Teach for America foundation, which helps schools throughout the country in low income areas that have inadequate funding.

Schools are suffering since many students that lived in the area affected by Katrina have been relocated to different schools, he said.

Money was collected by donations or a raffle. Raffle tickets were sold to win gift certificates to restaurants and stores on Main Street.

Senior Shanna Yarmovsky, a member of D-#Sharps#, opened the concert with a reading of a hurricane victim's account of the tragedy.

At the end of the concert, Yarmovsky announced the five a cappella groups had a surprise. The groups sang together on stage for the first time in the university's history.

"We hope our cohesiveness in our a cappella community will inspire others," she said.

Junior Lindsey Pinkowsky said it was her first a cappella concert and she was amazed with the performances.

"They all did a great job and it was for a good cause," she said. "My favorite part was at the end when they all sang together. I think it proved an important point that we need to join together and keep helping the victims of Katrina."

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