On Aug. 22, Southeast Missouri State University’s Student Government Association hosted its first ever SGA Lip-Sync Benefit “Lip Service with a Purpose” with over 200 attendees.
The event allowed for each organization’s members to pitch to the audience their organization, why individuals should join it and their philanthropy choice. After that members of the organization had the opportunity to perform a synchronized lip-sync routine for one minute. If audience members liked a performance, they could donate money to a jar naming that organization’s charity of choice.
A total of 12 teams performed for the benefit, which included the Southeast football team, Secular Student Alliance, Game Club SE, University Dancers United, Psychology Club, Department of Chemistry, Sigma Sigma Sigma, Gamma Sigma Sigma, International Student Association, the Office of Research and Grant Development, the Southeast Arrow, Department of Theatre and Dance, Phi Delta Theta and Alpha Phi Omega.
The SGA executive board opened the show paying homage to the hit TV show “Friends,” coordinating in white shirts, black pants and sneakers and performing the show’s theme song “I’ll Be There For You” by The Rembrandts.
The football team performed on behalf of the charity Backstoppers, and they embodied the spirits of the legendary R&B group The Temptations with their soulful performance of “My Girl.” From their effortless footwork to the serenading of the female audience members, they were an immediate crowd pleaser.
The Secular Student Association members pumped up the crowd with their rendition of “Heathens” by Twenty One Pilots from the movie “Suicide Squad.” The Secular Student Association dedicated its performance to the charity Doctors Without Borders.
Animated can describe the performance of Game Club SE, whose members all wore video game-themed clothing consisting of overalls, flower T-shirts and headbands to the sounds of Donkey Kong. Game Club SE chose Little Sisters of the Poor as its charity.
University Dancers United brought the girl power dressed alike in red and black leotards with high buns to their performance of “Fergalicious” by Fergie. Their philanthropy of choice was Big Brothers Big Sisters.
The Psychology Club performed its routine to the sounds of Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling.” The club’s routine involved a lot of movement, including ladies of the Psychology Club winding around in hula hoops. The Southeast Missouri Autism Center was the Psychology Club’s philanthropy choice.
Long lab coats in hues of white and blue, welding masks, goggles, a plunger, a clock with a periodic table, signs written with “Everything Is Awesome” in red and black letters and a newspaper with same the headline are many of the scientific elements that contributed to the Department of Chemistry’s energetic rendition of Tegan and Sara’s “Everything Is Awesome.” The Department of Chemistry raised money on behalf of the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri.
Clad in T-shirts and plaid shirts tied around the waist of blue jeans were the ladies of Sigma Sigma Sigma, who had the audience — including Southeast President Carlos Vargas — swaying their arms from side to side. The ladies performed to none other than Miley Cyrus’s classic summer anthem “Party In The USA.” Sigma Sigma Sigma raised money on behalf of the Tri Sigma foundation.
All the ladies of Gamma Sigma Sigma needed for their performance was matching bright pink Gamma Sigma Sigma sorority shirts, sunglasses and “Summer Nights” from “Grease.” Their performance was dedicated to the charity Backstoppers.
Dressed in all black attire, Harman Malhi was a one-woman show as she represented the International Student Association in her performance to the upbeat single ladies’ anthem “Single Ladies” by Beyoncé on behalf of the charity Feed My Starving Children.
The ’90s R&B group En Vogue was channeled through the grants coordinators for the Office of Research and Development and faculty from the Southeast Arrow, along with students from the Department of Theatre and Dance who danced as the ladies lip-synced in all-black attire to the mega-hit “Free Your Mind.” This group raised money on behalf of the American Cancer Society.
The men of Phi Delta Theta took everyone back to a time when boy bands were all the rage by serenading the crowd with “Everybody” by The Backstreet Boys on behalf of the ALS Association.
Alpha Phi Omega performed “White and Nerdy” by “Weird Al” Yankovic decked out in nerd gear from head to toe with suspenders, glasses and ties. APO members performed their routine on behalf of the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri.
Pam Vargas, the director of research and grant development, Dr. Bruce Skinner, assistant vice president of student success and auxiliary services, along with Katie Foshee, assistant director of admissions for New Students Programs, were the judges for the evening and were responsible for critiquing the talent portion of the benefit.
All in all, SGA raised a grand total of $350.05 from its first ever lip-sync battle benefit. The winners of the evening were the University Dancers United representatives, who came in first place with $23 raised. The Southeast Arrow, Department of Theatre and Dance and the Office of Grant Research and Development came in second place with $39.13 raised. The Department of Chemistry placed third with $47 raised, which was the most individually.
Peyton Mogley, president of SGA, said she hopes to see the lip-sync battle benefit continue as a tradition, but that will solely be up to SGA’s executive board for the 2017-2018 school year.
Some of the focus areas SGA has for the current school year are visibility, inclusion and tradition. Mogley said the organization does have some goals set in stone for this academic school year.
“This year for Student Government, the senate, the executive board as a whole, we focus on ways that we can make ourselves known,” Mogley said.
Committee meetings for SGA are at 7 p.m. Monday nights in the UC Ballroom, and senate meetings are held at 8 p.m. on Mondays as well and are open to students.
Student Government First Year Senator and Special Elections applications are due Friday, Aug. 26. The application link can be found at semo.edu/studentgov/forms.html.
