Judging from the size and enthusiasm of the crowd, it was hard to believe that it was a Tuesday night. Whitman students cheered, danced and sang along to the lyrics for three hours as seven different groups played at the Phi Delta Theta’s Battle of the Bands fund-raiser that raised over $1,000 for charity.

Sophomore Albert Lee organized the fund-raiser for the Walla Walla Community Center for Youth (CCY). Although many of his fraternity brothers initially wanted the money to go their national charity for Lou Gehrig’s disease, they eventually decided to donate the money to CCY.

“We wanted to do something for the community, too; we thought that it would be more beneficial and have more impact to donate it to CCY because it’s in Walla Walla,” said Lee. Lee had his own reasons for urging the Phis to consider the center.”I personally wanted to do something for the kids because when I was growing up my parents were poor and it was always nice to have a place to go to, to spend your time. It’s nice for kids to have a home for them to go to if they have abusive parents or something,” said Lee.

As co-philanthropy chair with senior Colin Miller, Lee has strongly encouraged community service in the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He has been organizing everything from stream restorations to soup kitchens to YMCA carnivals. Lee has also mandated a five hour community service requirement per semester to active members with a $20 fine for each hour not completed.

This community service event was a particular hit among Whitman students.

The band Lucid Dream opened the show with a set of three songs which started the crowd moving. Before the next set, four girls and one of the leaders from CCY gave short speeches. The girls were from CCY’s Leadership Team and spoke about how much the center has meant to them. Many of the girls suffered from difficult home situations and were grateful to CCY for providing them a place to hang out and for inspiring them.

“I come from a family that drinks a lot, I’m really glad to get out of my house and go to CCY,” said Mary Perry.”My dad is in prison and I take care of my mom but thanks for CCY I’m going to college next year and I have a scholarship,” said 17-year-old Bobbie Doll amid cheers from the crowd.

The leader of CCY’s leadership team, Rick Brown, spoke about how his own rough childhood eventually led him to spend 27 years in prison. He said he knows firsthand how crucial it is to have a system of support for these kids.After the speeches, the battle started in earnest. MCs sophomore Matt Solomon and senior Ken Anderson put on sunglasses and announced the lineup of bands: Lucid Dreams, Mad Notes, Raptivists, Funk in the Trunk, Danger Mermaid and The Band Before Time.

Mad Notes was a one-man band of first-year Joe Wheeler who rapped while playing guitar. Next were the Raptivists, featuring vocalist Aisha Fukushima singing songs by Alicia Keyes and Lauren Hill. Funk in the Trunk, a nine-man band sporting brightly colored shirts and accessories, opened their set with a song called Big Fat Funky Booty with Will Canine on vocals.

Danger Mermaid inspired even more dancing from the crowd with their ska beats and cover of the favorite “Jessie’s Mom.” The two MCs beat-boxed an opening for The Band Before Time who slowed down the crowd and played lead vocalist Jeff Wilson’s favorite song of “all time.”

Professors Karl Storchmann, Jeanne Moorfield and Director of Institutional Research Neal J. Christopherson judged the performances. After deliberation, the MCs announced a three-way tie between Funk in the Trunk, the Raptivists and Danger Mermaid. Each band played again to loud cheering but the Raptivists especially captivated the crowd with an outstanding vocal performance by Fukushima. When the MCs announced that the three-way tie was to be decided by the level of cheering from the crowd, the Raptivists clearly won.

Both the Phis and the CCY have expressed hopes that the event will become an annual tradition. The youth themselves wish to hold their own battle of the bands.

“This is giving us inspiration. We want to host our own Battle of the Bands and try to get some of these bands to come,” said Megan Barnes.