CULTURE

Greekfest brings Dierks Bentley to fraternity row

Alex Cohen

August 25, 2011

The city of Tuscaloosa could host its largest musical concert to date. The tunes won’t reverberate from the community’s new amphitheater that boasts a capacity of 7,500 this Friday. Instead, a potential audience of 10,000 will hear the music directly on campus.

Tomorrow on fraternity row, Costa Del Mar and the Greekfest committee will host Costa Greekfest. The benefit show will feature the sounds of Dierks Bentley, G-Love & Special Sauce and Machines Are People Too. Concert tickets are available to all University of Alabama students at $25 each, and each student is allowed to purchase two guest tickets at the same price.

2011 marks Costa’s third year of being involved with the event, and proceeds have benefitted a charity every year.

“We wanted to make a ‘party with a purpose’ type of event,” said Rob Sabin, a graduate of the University and the College Community Leader for Costa Del Mar.

That purpose has varied from year to year but has always been topical. Last year, donations went to Coastal Conservation Association Alabama – in the wake of the gulf’s oil crisis – and the Billfish Foundation, a non-profit organization focusing on the conservation of billfish.

This year, half of the proceeds will go to the Billfish Foundation, whose efforts currently focus on accessibility and “fishibility” of the gulf.

“We’re following up on last year’s cleanup of the oil spills,” said Peter Chaibongsai, director of science and policy at BFF. “We want Alabama and every state on the Gulf Coast to be able to enjoy those waters.”

The other half of donations will go to the UA Greek Relief Fund, an organization that raises and distributes funds across Tuscaloosa to provide tornado relief. Students’ willingness to help their community is expected to increase ticket sales, thereby increasing relief funds.

“We want to prove our passion, and that we’re not just a bunch of kids drinking beer,” said Robert Rolfe, a senior majoring in finance and an executive vice president of the Interfraternity Council. “We have the ability to give back.”

UA Greek Relief has raised more than $200,000, all of which has stayed within the Tuscaloosa community. Despite their heavy support, they believe there is still work to be done. A video illustrating that continued need for assistance will play at the benefit concert.

“I think the video is a good reminder because it will reopen peoples’ eyes to the scale of the devastation,” said Ashley Getwan, a senior majoring in biochemistry and board member of the Greek Relief board of trustees. “We still need donations; we still need volunteers.”

While attendees, both greek and non-greek, will be contributing to worthy causes, they are also encouraged to have fun.

“This concert is for everyone,” Rolfe said. “As possibly the largest concert in Tuscaloosa history, we don’t want people to forget to have a good time.”