It's finally that time of year, Derby Days Season is upon us! Although Derby Days is a nationwide event hosted by Sigma Chi brothers at hundreds of different universities, Rutgers has the pleasure of hosting the largest in the country! In preparation, every sorority girl is perfecting her dance moves and the brothers of Sigma Chi are engaging in a little inter-fraternity smack talk. But Derby Days is more than a week long competition, it's a year long effort to help support the amazing philanthropy that is Children's Miracle Network. Children's Miracle Network hits close to home (literally, it's less than a mile from campus) but also figuratively for the participants of Derby Days. We have had the pleasure to tour the hospital and meet the children and their families that this money directly benefits. It's a truly humbling experience. This years fundraising goal is $200,000 and there is no doubt in my mind that the seven amazing sororities along with Sigma Chi will be able to meet, if not exceed this goal.

Today kicked off the competition with field events! Field events consisted of traditional games like relay races, tug-of-war, inflatable obstacle course, human foosball, and many more. The competition was strong, and every team put forth 100% effort. After an exhausting day, the teams take a break until Tuesday when Brotherhood Auction takes place in the Rutgers Student Center! The brotherhood auction is a super fun event in where brothers from each team are auctioned off to each sorority to raise money for the cause. And for all the haters who are going to says that this event (or this competition in general) is sexist, the divas will get auctioned off too and half of the proceeds each sorority raises will come back to their own specific philanthropies as well. It's a win-win situation for all. Thursday is the Minute to Win it competition, and trust me, you never though game show games could be so intense. And last but certainty not least, the moment we've all been waiting for, Saturday is the lip sync competition! Each sorority and the boys on their teams have been rehearsing a 10 minute dance choreographer solely by the diva of each team, to perform in front of all the other teams. This is the final and most revered competition of the entire Derby Days event.

While of course its expected that teams get competitive, in the end we are all working towards the same goals and enjoying it each step of the way. I can easily say that Derby Days is my favorite event that I've had the pleasure to participate in the last two years and I look forward to Derby Days in the future. The events are fun, the competition gives members of different organizations a great opportunity to get to know and work with each other, and raising money for Children's Miracle Network is an amazing thing. Make sure you come out to the events this week, we've got a great competition this year!