The brothers of Sigma Chi kicked off their annual philanthropic week-long event to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network Jan. 14. This year's Derby Days, themed "Full Metal Jacket" was organized by the fraternity with help from the three sororities on campus, Delta Gamma, Alpha Chi Omega and the Zeta Tau Alpha, which will compete for points in various events.

"We wanted everyone campus-wide to know what Derby Days is about," said Tim Nowak, secretary of the fraternity and Derby Days chair. "Last year, we raised $2,200 for Multiple Sclerosis and that was the most ever. This year, we want to raise $3,500 for CMN." The first event of the week, "Silver Wars," placed sorority members in front of three locations: the boathouse, the courtyard and the Green. The sororities' objective was to collect as many "silver" coins as they could.

"The sorority with the most silver wins," Nowak said. Other Derby Days events include a visit to Shands Hospital and the "All Greek Campus" in which fraternities and sororities cleaned up campus. "[A Sigma Chi brother] Zack Sneed's car caught on fire Jan. 5 over outside the Landing [one of the residential halls at University of North Florida], and he donated his car for the Car Bash event [Jan. 16]," Nowak said. Nowak said in past years, the fraternity has gone to a junk yard and paid $75 for a car to bash.

Although the fraternity is raising money for CMN, Sigma Chi decided also to donate 10 percent of the earnings to the winning sorority's philanthropy.

Jan. 16: Car Bash 10-4 on the Green Candid Camera 7-9

Jan. 17: Wake-A-Sig (Osprey Caf})

Jan. 18: Basic Training Open for everyone on campus-all clubs, CMN kids present 12-3 Derby Days Darling Pageant 7-10

Jan. 19: Sorority Appreciation Dinner 6-8, Sigma Chi waits on sororities