Posters, billboards, glitter and war paint. As the countdown closed at midnight, girls from all sororities raced around the Sigma Chi lawn showing their sorority poster paraphernalia in support of the fraternity's philanthropic event Derby Days.
Derby Days is Sigma Chi's annual week-long event to raise money for its philanthropy the Children's Miracle Network.
Zach Moore, a sophomore in accounting and this year's Derby Days chair, said the week is packed with fundraisers.
A specific restaurant donates a portion of its profits to the Children's Miracle Network each day.
Sigma Chi also hosts an activity each night for the sororities to participate in.
"We try to make it as fun as possible," Moore said. "We throw in as much as (the sororities) do if not more and try to get them to enjoy it as much as possible."
Decorating the lawn at the Sigma Chi fraternity house was the only concern for most Panhellenic women Sunday night.
But this was no ordinary decorating.
Some women donned their best warrior-like gear, with war paint on their faces as they climbed trees and flag poles, racing to see whose sorority could claim the best spot.
The participants' ability to maneuver around 8-foot billboards and their secretly rehearsed plays would have any Auburn football player in awe.
Meredith Jones, a freshman in biomedical sciences, said her participation is fueled not only by the great cause but by the great representation of her sorority as well.
"I freaking love Delta Zeta," Jones said. "I broke the top of my fingernail off for this. This is insane, and I am doing it next year."
Though the lawn decorating officially began at midnight, girls camped on the sidewalk as early as 8 p.m., braving the weather and tornado sirens and eager to get the best spot on the lawn.
Both Phi Mu sorority and Sigma Chi fraternity share the philanthropy Children's Miracle Network.
Megan Lovelace, a junior in communications, said she has participated every year, and since she has been a member of Phi Mu sorority, her sorority has come in first place for Derby Days.
"We get here at 8 p.m. just to make sure we are on the front, so we are the first people in the yard, just because it is our philanthropy and we like to get into it more," Lovelace said.
All Sigma Chi chapters nationwide participate in Derby Days.
Though each chapter has its own unique event, all proceeds go to the Children's Miracle Network.
This year's Derby Days event at Auburn will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Lauren Burk Memorial Scholarship Endowment.
The Sigma Chi chapter donates money to the Medical Center in Columbus, Ga.
"The hospital in Columbus is really great, and they really enjoy us doing this," Moore said. "We'll go and present them with a check, and they'll give us a tour of the hospital, and it's really cool to see."
On average, Sigma Chi has been able to donate $12,000 to $15,000 to the Children's Miracle Network.
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