The War of Roses is a week long competition between sororities on Purdue's campus. Activities during the week include penny wars, skip-a-meals, an empathy dinner at the fraternity house, contestants also visit Jefferson High School to help out with our local partnership, and finally the week is finished off with a talent competition. All of the money raised during this week benefits Pi Kapps Phi's philanthropy, PUSH America. Below is an article detailing the 2011 War of Roses. Phi Mu took this year's crown.
Phi Mu Sorority Sisters pose with Brothers from Pi Kapps after winning the 2011 War of Roses
Phi Mu takes 2011 War of Roses crown
Nearly 600 people attended the capstone event of the annual War of Roses – a talent show – that saw Phi Mu sorority take the championship.
The Phi Mu talent portion included a choreographed female-mail dancing while a sorority sister sang “Out of Your Mind,” by Lil Jon and “Pretty Girl Rock,” by Keri Hilson. The Pi Kappa Phi coaches for the winning routine were John Moschovich and David Hanover.
Anna Sullivan was the individual winner as the Rose of Pi Kappa Phi.
Other sororities’ events included additional song and dance routines and gymnastics. Alpha Xi Delta was the runners-up in the weeklong competition. Guest judges for the event were Purdue athletes, including placekicker Carson Wiggs, wide receiver Kurt Lichtenberg and freesylist Drew Wolfred.
Ten sororities participated in the Pi Kapp-sponsored War of Roses. They were coached by volunteers from the fraternity, which included 20 men – two per sorority.
Events during the week included a Monday empathy dinner at the fraternity house. At that dinner, sorority members mimicked various disabilities, such as blindness or the inability to use their fingers. The Greek population was invited to a skip-a-meal at Hotbox Pizza. At that type of event, dinner is canceled at a chapter and instead they use the money they would have spent at home at a local restaurant. That restaurant, in turn, donates to the organizing charitable organization, in this case Pi Kappa Phi’s Push America.
Then, sororities sent representatives to our local Push partnership with the special needs classes at Lafayette Jefferson High School.
Pi Kappa Phi raised more than $2,500 for Push during the weeklong activities.
Kyle Pluchar, chapter Push America chairman, was pleased with the 2011 event.
“War of Roses was a great success this year because we raised even more money than last year, more sororities participated and we had a larger attendance than in any previous year,” he said.