Sigma Chi cancels Fight Night, plans for fall event

The A&M-Commerce chapter of Sigma Chi Fraternity Incorporated (Zeta Eta) has canceled their annual Fight Night due to lack of participants.

While rumors have buzzed around campus as to the cause of the cancelation, the organization stated a key factor in the decision was the low amount of fighters that had signed up.

"We pushed it back to the fall to give a bunch of us more time. Once pledge [activities] start that's our main focus," Sigma Chi President Esteban Arriola said. "One of the big key factors of fight night was getting fighters. We had no problems getting ads or getting donations from alumni, its just you've got to find fighters."

Fight Night is Sigma Chi's spring philanthropy project, with the proceeds going to benefit the Children's Miracle Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of sick children by raising funds for children's hospitals across North America. In the past, the event has consisted of about eight amateur fights that included male and female boxers.

"We asked students and different guys from fraternities and the fact of maybe getting hurt or getting embarrassed and the liabilities and stuff like that," said. "Its just a little entertainment and show. Yes, there's going to be one loser and there's going to be one winner, but not a lot of people want to take that risk."

Students including freshman Will Robinson are disappointed in this turn of events, and hope that some sort of alternative will be available.

"It really sucks that they had to cancel it this year," Robinson said. "I was planning to box in it. But from what I heard they had some issues with planning, so I'm sure they'll be able to get it worked out. I can still box in the [Morris Recreation Center] on Wednesdays, so it's all good."

Sigma Chi reached out to the various student organizations on campus as well as boxing organizations outside of the university community, but found little cooperation when it came to booking fighters for the charity event.

"I know boxing places around the DFW and Greenville area have boxing clubs, but they don't want to take that liability to just put them in random fights," Arriola said. "They want to make money out of it, and we're doing it out of charity and donation."

Some students have already reserved their tickets or special tables, which include all-you-can-eat ribs, baked potatoes, salad, and a non-alcoholic drink. Arriola said Sigma Chi will not leave those students out in the cold.

"The ones that have already paid, we're keeping in contact with them," Arriola said. "I don't want to give away too much of what we have planned, but the student involvement and student attendance will definitely increase."