The Alpha Tao Omega fraternity will
host a battle of the bands event in Isla Vista
this weekend to promote their upcoming All-
Sorority Volleyball Tournament fundraiser.
The competition will begin at 1:30 p.m.
Saturday at 6551 Del Playa Drive and feature
a preliminary round for the competitors. The
two bands that generate the most support
from social networking sites before April 30
will perform during the tournament.
Colin Cadarette, ATO’s Social Internal
Chair and ASVT Event Chair, said the band
competition is the first of several changes to
this year’s fundraiser.
“This year’s event is all about keeping it
local and getting the community involved,”
Cadarette said. “We want to emphasize that
the event involves the Santa Barbara community
as well as UCSB students. We are
changing the culture and making it less of
a ‘Greek thing’ and more of a UCSB/Santa
Barbara thing.”
The ATO fraternity began the philanthropic
competition in 2003 in Isla Vista
until complaints of public disturbances and
alcohol violations forced the event to relocate
onto Santa Barbara’s West Beach five
years ago. The now defunct company Twiin
Productions helped produce, manage and
staff the downtown venue until financial hurdles
bankrupted the organization last year.
This year’s contest is a 32-team bracket
with double elimination rounds located at
East Beach featuring sororities from UCSB,
UC Davis, UCLA and UC Berkeley. Unlike
previous tournaments, this year is also open to
non-sorority members.
According to ATO President Bobby
Lukemon, the venue will not provide alcohol
on the premises.
“People do not need to worry about lots
of drinking this way and makes the event
less of something for just 18 to 25-year-olds.,”
Lukemon said. “I think everyone will enjoy
it. This event was my favorite day of spring
quarter last year.”
The venue will include live music and
food and merchandise vendors. Non-profit
organizations UCSB Coastal Fund, Santa
Barbara Channelkeeper and Santa Barbara
Surfrider will also have tables with information
for attendees to get involved with beach
conservation projects. Groups will receive a
portion of event proceeds.
SB Channelkeeper Executive Director
Kira Redmond said the funds will help the
association finance several projects.
“I think this event will help us reach a lot
of people and educate them about what we are
doing,” Redmond said. “I have no idea how
much money we will raise, hopefully five to
10 thousand [dollars], but at our table we will
have an important petition to pass the ban
on plastic bags as well as postcards for people
to send to the Fish and Game Commission
to implement the Marine Protected Areas
legislation.”
