On Wednesday, Phi Mu hosted its annual philanthropy event, Mr. Phi Mu, an interfraternity competition. The event benefited the Katie Oppo Research Fund, which endows ovarian cancer research at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. Admission was $5, and each attendee got five votes.
The event honors Katie Oppo, a former sister of Phi Mu, who passed away on April 11, 2011 during her sophomore year at Hopkins from stage four ovarian cancer. Her mother started the Katie Oppo Research Fund to both remember her daughter and prevent future deaths due to small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT). Since Oppo’s passing, the sisters of Phi Mu have raised thousands of dollars in her name.
The Phi Mu sisters, decked out in matching blue tank tops, greeted the attendees with tickets and baked goods, which were sold to generate revenue for the research fund. Shriver Hall was packed with fraternity brothers, sorority sisters, sports teams and other Hopkins students, as the contestants, clad in either boxers or speedos, walked onstage. There was a contestant from each fraternity and several men’s sports teams. Wild cheers and laughs erupted when groups recognized their candidates.
“Mr. Phi Mu is an interfraternity bonding moment over self-humiliation for the entertainment of others and raising money for ovarian cancer,” John Cotoia, two-time contestant and senior Phi Delta Theta member, said.
The first portion of the program, which consisted of an opening dance number to a medley of pop songs, including Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off,” elicited a roar of approval from the crowd. The fan sections of the various contestants screeched whenever their favorites came on stage.
The opening number was followed by a swimsuit competition. As the contestants strutted across the stage, the evening’s emcees, Phi Mu sister Katie Rubery and Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) brother Jack Murren, read humorous biographies that the contestants wrote about themselves.
Applause erupted from each fraternity and sports team as its competing member came on stage, flexed and danced. Their cheers were often accompanied by the screams and hoots from other students in the audience.
The talent portion of the show consisted of lap dances, parodies of popular songs, group singing and displays of strength. Highlights included Sigma Phi Epsilon’s (SigEp’s) Dave Davino squatting while carrying sophomore Tyana Warren and varsity tennis player JP Paris planking with sophomores Catriona Barr and Eliana Drescher on his back.
The audience also praised Alpha Delta Phi (Wawa) brother Dan Keller’s parody of “Anaconda” by Nicki Minaj and Cotoia’s contemporary dance number.
Freshman Roxanne Trager said she thought the talent portion of the show was particularly impressive.
“I liked the Nicki Minaj lap dance because it was creative,” Trager said. “He ran with it in a really impressive way. It was a nice break from studying biology.”
The question and answer period began once the five finalists were announced, leading to some laughs and sighs of sympathy from the audience. Then the votes were tallied, and Davino was declared the winner, eliciting applause and cheering from his SigEp brothers and several students in the crowd. Second place was awarded to Beta brother Michael Korn and third place went to Sigma Chi brother Ryan Fisico.
Freshman Ava White said that she enjoyed watching the contestants.
“The dancing was a fine display of talent, muscles and posteriors” she said. “But truly, it was for an important and timely cause.”
Freshman Gabrielle Gauthier agreed, saying that the contestants appeared to be enjoying themselves.
“It was really nice to see how the guys were able to have fun with it and still bring attention to such an important cause,” she said.
Ultimately, the event raised $4,807.60 for the Katie Oppo Research Fund.
