Awards:

Overall Winner: Delta Zeta
1st Place Fraternity Dance: Delta Upsilon
1st Place Sorority Dance: Alpha Xi Delta
2nd Place Fraternity Dance: (tie) Zeta Beta Tau / Kappa Sigma
2nd Place Sorority Dance: Zeta Tau Alpha
3rd Place Fraternity Dance: Alpha Tau Omega
3rd Place Sorority Dance: Pi Beta Phi
Most School Supplies Donated: Delta Zeta
Highest BBQ Attendance: Kappa Sigma

SEE SHAKEDOWN PHOTO SLIDESHOW HERE.

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Kappa Delta:

Lambda Chi Alpha:

Alpha Delta Pi:

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Beta Theta Pi:

Zeta Beta Tau:

Zeta Tau Alpha:

Click next page for more organizations.

And in a last-ditch effort to move up from the bottom fraternity sports league to the top after coming off a sports suspension, Sigma Chi created a Facebook page to lobby for a vote from other UCF fraternities to allow them to compete in the top fraternity Gold League division.

But their campaign failed during a 12:15 Greek Points meeting today, when Rec and Wellness officials declared a vote from other fraternities to let them back on couldn’t override the current rules, multiple sources at the meeting told KnightNews.com. No vote was ever taken.

The Facebook page, created by Matt Roulan, was created “to petition support from the greek community to bring Sigma Chi back to the GOLD league for greek league.”

“After being reprimanded for things in the past we currently reside in the white league with little chance of being in the top league for a few years. Were not asking to be let in for the greek cup, just the ability to play in the gold greek league.

UCF fraternity sports leagues are divided into Gold League for the top, Black League for the middle and White League for those with the worst records. Because Sigma Chi wasn’t allowed to participate in sports, the rules require their record of zero points places them in White League.

The Sigma Chi Facebook page argued an exception should be made.

“After being reprimanded for things in the past we currently reside in the white league with little chance of being in the top league for a few years,” the page read. “Were not asking to be let in for the greek cup, just the ability to play in the gold greek league.”

Roulan wrote that Sigma Chi wants to play against the top fraternities in Gold League, in order to “keep competition alive.”

Staff from the Rec and Wellness Center confirmed to KnightNews.com that for the upcoming Basketball and Flag Football leagues, Sigma Chi will participate in the White division.

“Since they did not play in previous seasons, the established guidelines are followed for league placement which puts them in that division of play,” said Gary Cahen of the RWC. There is no opportunity for Sigma Chi to change the rules and move up to Gold for this calendar year, but they could try and lobby other Greeks to change the rules for next year’s sports.

Thirteen people were thrown overboard, however the coast guard has announced they have all been accounted for.

We will be reporting more information as we get it.

Also, Alpha Xi Delta was given a refreshment bar in their backyard by the Theta Chi fraternity. Then, later that night, Theta Chi gave them a candlelit Italian dinner at their house.

Please continue to e-mail us at news@knightnews.com or text us at 407-5-tip-ucf to let us know what your fraternity is doing to win a sorority for Homecoming 2010, or if your sorority is being wooed by a fraternity. E-mail us pictures or video, and we will post them all here on the site.
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If you drove by the UCF Zeta Tau Alpha house Tuesday afternoon, you might have wondered why it looked like they were still celebrating Spring Break.

KnightNews.com stopped by to find out why a big group of Zetas was sprawled out on the front lawn of their sorority house, tanning with a bunch of guys, sipping smoothies and playing on a slip ‘n slide.  Even though this is Spring, we found out the front lawn festivities have to do with this Fall’s homecoming activities — and Phi Delta Theta’s push for Zeta to pick them as a partner.

“They’re showing their love for us,” one Zeta said, who was hanging out with the Phi Delts in her front lawn.

“We’re going for Zeta for homecoming,” said Phi Delt brother Jeremy Tellor, when asked what his fraternity was doing out there. “We’re really running unopposed. I can’t really see our opponent right now.”

However, KnightNews.com did confirm at least one other fraternity is also vying for Zeta.

“Sigma Chi just came and put up a banner there, and they’re washing our cars,” one Zeta said.

Phi Delt told KnightNews.com their event started at noon, and they brought out one of their brothers, who also DJ’s at Scoop, to provide the music.

“We’re trying to have some fun, get to know them,” a Phi Delt told KnightNews.com.

“These girls are gorgeous, fine and smart,” said another.

The Zetas were enjoying all the attention.

“I love it. It’s my favorite time of year,” a Zeta said.

“I think we should do this all the time!” said another.

KnightNews.com Wants to Know: Is your fraternity doing something special to win over a sorority for homecoming? E-mail us at news@knightnews.com or text us at 407-5-tip-ucf to let us know. Also, text us on Sunday when the big votes go down. We will provide updates online with who gets paired with who as part of our live coverage.

Some of the most in depth discussion about the board happened during the December 15 A&SF Budget meeting, where the MSC presented a video obtained by KnightNews.com, below, explaining why they want to keep their funding board, and discussing the tensions between SGA and MSC.

KnightNews.com has also posted some of the audio from the meeting SGA fought to keep from being released after KnightNews.com put in a public records request for it in February, along with the $15 million budget recommendation.

The above audio clip includes excerpts from the December 15 A&SF meeting. The first portion includes some words of advice to committee members from SGA Advisor Christa Coffey to not “assume you know things about agencies,” be “courteous” to agencies, and “ask the agencies to come back if you do have questions.”

Coffey went on to explain that they should get the questions out of the way during the winter break meetings, because “obviously we’d rather it come out now and have debate over it now than wait to the senate meeting where it could be really bad.”

Coffey added: “Everybody hear me on that?”

Shortly thereafter, the committee heard presentations from OSI and other agencies. KnightNews.com cut the audio at that point and restarted it when MSC members gave a presentation and let it play out unedited until the issue was over. During the audio, you can hear the MSC play the video above.

During the winter break meeting, A&SF budget committee members discussed the MSC funding board at length after Senate Pro Tempore Joshua Miller made a motion to “strike the MSC funding board.”

Then, SGA Speaker Patrick Stauffer said, “In the end this is an issue that needs a lot more examination.”

Stauffer explained that the decision to kill the funding board should not be made quickly during the winter break meeting. He explained how the funding board was created during a similar winter break in a meeting in 2008, when a motion was made to put it in the budget, and “it passed and that was it.”

“Fast forward until today,” Stauffer said in December, “and we obviously see issues with that decision, because we made it quickly, we made it without fully consulting everyone, we made it without going through all the steps that we need to, to make a fully informed decision about this.”

A female committee member, whose voice appears to be that of Sen. Sarah Bishop, argued in support of the MSC during the December meeting, and wanted to know why some felt the funding board wasn’t working.

“I don’t understand how this isn’t working,” she said. “They’re funding the organizations. What’s not working about that? The organizations are getting their money, the events are occuring, what’s not working?

“I dont understand,” she continued. “Just because we don’t like to see them funding money — is it we don’t want to see them with the money instead of us?”

Then-presidential candidate Michael Kilbride also came out in strong support of the MSC in December.

“We can make it work,” Kilbride said.

“We need to sit down with them and make it happen,” he added. “I think we can. And if a few people from this committee step up and sit with them and look at their process, I think it’s possible.”

Miller’s motion to kill the funding board failed in December, but a similar motion made by SGA Comptroller Shane Chism passed in March, effectively destroying it unless the Senate reverses the decision before approving the budget.

It does not appear that any serious meetings happened between A&SF and the MSC in between that time, because MSC member Jerry Johnson told KnightNews.com Chism’s March 19 motion, “was pretty much out of nowhere, it was a surprise.”

SGA Sen. Kevin Wolkenfeld presented a resolution to create a special senate ad hoc committee dedicated to having in depth meetings with the MSC before the Senate votes to approve or deny the A&SF recommendation. The resolution required the special session be pushed back until April 8, so the Senate wouldn’t have to rush to make a decision on April 1.

Speaker Stauffer did not put the resolution on the agenda, and refused to answer KnightNews.com’s questions about why he decided not to allow it on. He later commented below. Stauffer set the special session for April 1, even though Senate rules don’t require it to be presented until April 15. KnightNews.com is investigating whether the senate could postpone passing the bill until April 8, if they don’t feel comfortable doing passing it on April 1 without the chance to get all the information.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

—————Our original Sunday story on the MSC’s Fight for Its Life

Members of the University of Central Florida’s Multicultural Student Center met Sunday to coordinate their final efforts to fight off a Student Government Association attempt to slash the MSC’s funding board’s budget to zero dollars, effectively killing it.

Members of the MSC plan to rally support this week with petitions. SGA Director of Student Advocacy Aleisha Hodo  said she encourages MSC members to ask senators and cabinet members directly: “Do you have a problem with multicultural organizations funding other multicultural organizations?”

KEEP READING BY CLICKING NEXT PAGE BELOW:

Here’s a list of ways that the UCF community is already helping:

WATCH HIGHLIGHTS OF UCF’S CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL | CHECK OUT THE HAITI RELIEF BBQ

-Club Kreyol is hosting a candle light vigil at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, at the Reflecting Pond on UCF’s main campus to “show support in remembrance of those who lost their lives in Haiti, those who have not been recovered and the volunteers who are now there and expected to arrive,” according to club organizers.

-Haitian Relief Effort Informational Session, Tuesday, January 19, 12:00pm, Key West Ballroom -
Do you want to help out with the relief effort for the current Haitian crisis? Come out to join forces with UCF’s organizations as we brainstorm ideas to raise funds and donations that are badly needed. This is an endeavor to coordinate all RSO and agency efforts into a cohesive strategy aimed at providing the maximum amount of relief for these citizens. Bring a representative or two from your club with ideas and any information or resources you may have. Concerned individuals are also welcome.

-The Alpha Tau Omega house is accepting supplies for Haiti. Check out the FaceBook group here.

-A barbecue fundraiser organized by Club Kreyol will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18, at the Alpha Tau Omega house, 4419 Greek Court on UCF’s main campus. Bring a donation, and get a plate of food. All proceeds will benefit Haiti relief efforts.

-The Harris Rosen Foundation Inc. (the foundation of UCF Board of Trustees member Harris Rosen), will combine efforts with U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson’s office and several local Haitian community leaders to help victims. The foundation is currently accepting monetary donations and supplies – such as antibiotics, towels, bug spray, blankets and hygiene products, but no clothes – at various locations throughout the community. Drop-off locations currently include the Rosen Centre Hotel, 9840 International Drive; First Haitian Baptist Church, 4701 Lennox Blvd.; and Child Development Center of Orlando, 11553 Winter Garden Vineland Blvd.

-The Bowl for Haiti fundraiser will start Monday, January 18 at 12:00pm, and end at 11:00pm at The Sports Arena. To see more details and RSVP, please click here.

Many UCF students have family in Haiti, and we here at KnightNews.com wish them the best, and our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time.

Located on Alafaya and University, in the same shopping center at Knight Library, Fubar and Underground Blues, this new club strives to be unique amongst college bars. For one thing, it isn’t just a dance floor and a bar; instead, it offers private VIP rooms and hookah lounges for those who prefer to relax with their group of friends away from the crowd.

The most striking feature of Deko once you walk in is, perhaps, that the DJ booth is behind the bar and raised up high, allowing the DJ to oversee the crowd. That, coupled with some of the highest quality lighting in Orlando and flat screen televisions adorning the walls, makes for a very upscale experience without the higher prices of downtown clubs. When listening to the music, you will certainly notice that they spared no expense with their sound system, as the music is very clear at high volumes.

Being that Deko occupies a building that was formerly a movie theater, they have creatively come up with some ways to use the features. Outside, for example, is the old ticket office for the theater. They have converted it into an outdoor bar, so when they have people outside on crowded nights they will be able to easily serve drinks.

Additionally, all of the side hallways of the theater have been converted into the private lounges. It allows them to spread out of the crowd on busy nights if they’d like, avoiding that “bumper-to-bumper” feeling at the club.

There’s a lot more to say about this place, but the best way to learn what it’s all about is to go on opening night, this Thursday.

Deko will only be open on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights until they get more acquainted with the area and determine a more permanent schedule.

A Diamond In The Rough…

Growing up in the Jacob Riis housing projects of New York City’s Lower East Side (better known as “Alphabet City”), Benitez experienced firsthand the intense challenges of poverty. Often, these struggles teach many youth to believe in a life of crime and despair, but Roberto learned to believe in himself.

Though tested by the temptations of the streets, Roberto never gave in. Roberto has put together a stellar amateur boxing resume, including being a 10 time National Champion, 1999 USOEC Athlete of the Year, Goodwill Games silver medalist, and 4-time Everlast US Champion. He completed his amateur career by being named the first Olympian from NYC since Riddick Bowe.(1988)

Roberto matches the skills and ability he brings into the ring outside the ring as well. Wanting to be a positive role model, Roberto takes the time to speak to children about the importance of education and the perils of drug abuse.

This young phenom has graced the pages of FHM Magazine, Sports Illustrated, and Latina magazine. He has been featured on networks such as HBO, ESPN, Telemundo, Foxsports, and many others.

For more information on Benitez please visit him at www.Robertobenitezonline.com

Notable Boxing Accomplishments:

*Undefeated Professional bantamweight boxer (6-0, 3 KOs).

*2004 U.S. Olympian.

*10-time National Champion.

*Two-time National Golden Gloves champion.

*Four-time Everlast U.S. Champion ( 5th-ever in History to achieve this title) .

*Goodwill Games – Silver Medalist

With the parking lot closed off to make room for the enormous crowd, the event seemed to be an incredible success. With hundreds of people in attendance throughout the evening, it left the restaurant with a two-hour wait and standing room only.

To ease the pain of the wait, they served $3 beers outside all night while those in attendance could enjoy the slew of entertainment that was provided. For starters, there were several contests throughout the night.

Most notably, a contest was held where individuals would see who could sit on a block of ice for the longest period of time, while also holding a block of ice in their hands. The winner received VIP tickets to the Colts vs. Jaguars NFL game in Jacksonville.

There was also a bikini contest for the ladies who decided to strut their stuff, and, of course, there was a talented lineup of local bands that played for the grand prize of $2,500. With ten bands in total, it was enough to keep the crowd’s energy up all night.

What excited crowd doesn’t love a little bit of fighting? They had an octagon UFC fighting ring that played host to a series of fights, most notably a match between UFC fighters Tom Lawlord and Seth Petruzelli. Additionally, Buffalo Wild Wings played the Pay-Per-View UFC 104 show both inside and outside the restaurant for those to enjoy.

Also in attendance was Roberto Benitez, a  well-known boxer who was on the U.S. Olympic team in 2000. Knightnews.com was able to get an exclusive interview with Benitez, which can be seen HERE.

Buffalo Wild Wings hosted a memorable event with a massive crowd. Everyone had a blast, and according to security, only one person had to be escorted over the course of the entire evening. For a block party of this magnitude which played host to drunken UFC fighters, that’s damn good.

So on behalf of KnightNews.com, congratulations Buffalo Wild! We look forward to coming again next year.

But that doesn’t mean UCF didn’t go down without having fun. Our fan cam caught some interesting characters who showed up for the most packed tailgate of the year.