Greek event features free concert
Proving to be much more than just a Seventy-Six and Sunny concert, more than 1,500 students came out to USC’s “Not so Thirsty Thursday” event yesterday evening.
In efforts to promote a safer Five Points environment, the USC sorority and fraternity community chose to come together to create this event dedicated to the speedy recovery of Martha Childress, the first-year business student who was left paralyzed after being shot in Five Points on Oct. 13.
“We put this all together in less than a week,” said Megan Early, a fourth-year accounting student and vice president of Sorority Council. “We came up with the idea right before fall break, and thanks to the cooperation of the university and help of the administrators, we were able to pull this together really quickly.”
Initially planned as a free concert by local pop/rock band Seventy-Six and Sunny, “Not so Thirsty Thursday” succeeded in a full evening of entertainment. From a tent set up with a photo booth, cotton candy and snow cones, to performances by USC a capella groups and guest speakers, students were entertained throughout the whole night.
There were tables set up with cards to sign for Childress, as well as donation stations and a bake sale. All proceeds from food sales will go to a fund set up for Childress’s recovery.
“We wanted to plan an event that people wanted to attend. It’s a good way to gather everyone in one place,” Early said.
At one break in the show, five of Childress’s closest friends got up to speak in front of the crowd. From childhood friends to sorority sisters, they all shared how Childress has made an impact in their lives.
“She’s a strong and amazing person,” said third-year accounting student Mari Letki. Letki is Childress’s big sister in Zeta Tau Alpha.
Early said, “I hope people learn from this that students really do have power and that anyone from any chapter can come together to make a difference.”
In addition to the event, Pinch, a popular Five Points bar, will be donating 10 percent of its proceeds Friday night to help install more emergency call boxes in the Five Points area in order to create a safer environment downtown.
“I was so excited to see the Carolina community come together like this,” said third-year education student and Zeta Tau Alpha president Rachel Patton. “It was so cool to see so many different people from so many different organizations come together and support Martha.”