APO karaoke night aims for fun, funds

Karaoke craziness filled the Campus Grind last Friday night, as Alpha Phi Omega, Geneseo's non-Greek, co-ed service fraternity, hosted a night of fun.

The event served as a fundraiser for Camp Sunshine, an organization that provides summer camp opportunities to children as well as families with children who are suffering from terminal illnesses.

Alpha Phi Omega accepted student donations throughout the event and also held a raffle to raise funds for the organization. The money raised through sponsors, such as Alpha Phi Omega, makes it possible for families to attend a Camp Sunshine program free of charge.

The karaoke event was well-attended and featured unique renditions of many well-known songs, two of the most popular being "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" from the Disney classic The Lion King and "Love Shack" by the B-52s. Members of Alpha Phi Omega, along with other students, took their turn lighting up the union stage. The relaxed, fun atmosphere made it possible for the members of Alpha Phi Omega to mingle with fellow students and answer any questions that students had about the fraternity or Camp Sunshine.

The upbeat event also proved to be a welcome surprise to many students who were looking to escape the cold and relax with a focaccia and some friends in the Union on a Friday night.

"I just happened to be at the union, but the karaoke was a really nice surprise," freshman Natalie Chang said.

Alpha Phi Omega, which has chapters at colleges and universities across the nation, is founded on the ideals of community service. Geneseo's chapter of Alpha Phi Omega conducts a variety of different projects each semester that aim to better both campus life and the outside community.

In addition to logging hours of service, Alpha Phi Omega members appreciate the bond they share with other members. According to president and sophomore Andrew Heyman, community service and bonding with fellow members are the two best parts of his involvement.