Pi Kappa Alpha will host their annual “Backpack In Black” philanthropy event April 11 at the Bourbon Theatre. All University of Nebraska-Lincoln chapters of Pi Kappa Alpha, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Beta Theta Pi will have a band that performs a 45-minute set including both covers and originals.
All proceeds raised from ticket sales will go to this year’s IFC philanthropy charity, the Malone Center. The Malone Center is a nonprofit community center that offers social services.
Jordan Baumert, a sophomore marketing major, is performing at “Backpack In Black” for the second year in a row. Baumert is a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, and will be playing bass for the show.
Sigma Phi Epsilon has raised money for the Malone Center in the past. In the fall, members of the fraternity hand out turkeys at their annual turkey drive.
“We sat around and we handed out the meals physically, all of us,” Baumert said. “It was a really hands-on experience… Helping people out really makes you feel good. Being able to do it through your organization, like a fraternity, and there’s like-minded guys around who want to do the same thing, it can make a really big impact on the community.”
The Sigma Phi Epsilon band consists of two guitar players, a bassist, the lead singer and the drummer. Currently, they do not have a band name.
“I picked up my bass the summer before college because I kind of heard about the event and I knew I was definitely going to be in a fraternity that was in it,” Baumert said. “Then my best friend…bought a drum set about the same time I did. So we had the same game plan.”
A few of the nine songs the Sigma Phi Epsilon band will play include “Linger” by The Cranberries, “Gives You Hell” by The All-American Rejects and “This Love” by Maroon 5.
Jack Kohout, a sophomore sports media and communications and advertising and public relations major, is the philanthropy chairman for Phi Delta Theta. Kohout executes all philanthropic events, including this one.
“‘Backpack In Black’ is important to me because it shows how I can have a huge impact on the Greek Community but also the Lincoln community,” Kohout said in an email.
Kohout said this event shows that Greek life promotes using resources to better people’s lives and help those in need.
“In general, ‘Backpack In Black’ is important because it shows what four men and their respective chapters can do to impact a community,” Kohout said in an email.
Baumert said he is happy that the local music scene is growing. His first experience performing at “Backpack In Black” last year was completely new to him.
“It was probably one of the best nights of my life,” Baumert said. “I felt like I was just on top of the world after, and not because I’m on stage in front of everybody, but because I was able to perform, but also do it for a good cause and raise a lot of money.”
Baumert said as the concert approaches, his band practices about three or four days a week.
“It’s not like a chore to us,” Baumert said. “We just go out there and have fun. And that’s what the whole event is about. You can’t take it too seriously. We’re not making any money here, we’re doing this for our house. So we’re just going out there, having a good time and showing people some of our talents.”
Tickets can be purchased for $10 at the door, or $9 if you are a member of one of the four chapters. For more information, click here.
