BGSU Taus to rock for the ACS this weekend

For his fraternity’s annual Rock-a-thon Saturday night, senior Eric Young usually tells people, “Come out to this event, and you can rock.”  Alpha Tau Omega will be rocking its fourth annual Rock-a-thon beginning Saturday at 7 p.m. at Outtakes at Commons. 

A rock-a-thon, for those who may be unfamiliar, is an event similar to dance marathon where instead of dancing, individuals or teams attempt to remain “rocking” in rocking chairs for an extended period of time.  Alpha Tau Omega’s Rock-a-thon this weekend will go for 12 hours, ending Sunday at 7 a.m.  The event will also feature food, raffles, card games, a talent show and live music throughout the night.

Young said the rock-a-thon is completely open to the public and usually attracts about 300 people throughout the night.

“One of our goals is to open up the event to non-Greek individuals and other organizations,” Young said.    

Senior Evan Haffenden, who has also been involved in organizing the event, gathered musical acts only appropriate for a rock-a-thon. So far the Rock-a-thon has confirmed six rock bands from the Bowling Green-Toledo area that are scheduled to perform throughout the night.  These include Team Nate, Resonant Soul, The City Circles, Man Down, The Fight Within and Ben Maloney. 

Haffenden said in the past three years of the Rock-a-thon, there has been at least one great band each year and the fraternity has tried to bring some of them back as well as invite new talent to the event.

“It should be a great musical show,” Haffenden said.

All the money raised by the Rock-a-thon will go to the American Cancer Society and will directly benefit cancer patients and research locally. 

“A lot of people look at the American Cancer Society and think the money being raised is going to some big corporation,” Young said.  “Over 70 percent of the money we raise will come back to Wood County and will be used to benefit people locally.” 

Junior Dan Lubin of Alpha Tau Omega has also been involved in organizing the Rock-a-thon.  Lubin said the event has raised over $3,000 in the previous three years combined.