Phi Mu Alpha offered an additional item to the MT Cup menu Thursday night. The music fraternity held a chili cook-off to benefit public school music programs in Muncie.
Customers could buy a bowl for $5 and then try samples from different chilis cooked by individual fraternity members. Customers could also vote for their favorite creation.
Sixty-eight people attended the event. Music education major Ethan Edwards, who is a member of the fraternity, said the event had more people than expected.
"I didn't expect so many people so early," he said. "We really appreciate everyone coming out. It's for a good cause, and I'm glad that people value music enough to want to support the local music programs in Muncie."
The cook-off raised $340, which will be used to pay for a professional to tune pianos in Muncie elementary schools.
Myles Ogea, owner of the MT Cup, provided the venue for the fraternity, Edwards said. Ogea is a Ball State and Phi Mu Alpha alumnus.
"We really owe a lot to [Ogea]," Edwards said. "He's allowing us to use the facilities, and he's very helpful and cooperative."
Jacob Webb, another member of Phi Mu Alpha, said the event had a larger attendance compared to other events the fraternity had put together.
"Usually it's kind of a small turnout. You know, we get maybe 20 people max," he said. "But as soon as this started we had a line of probably 20 already. We're really happy with how this worked out."
Webb said the cool weather was another factor that worked in the fraternity's favor.
"We were a little worried at first because it was raining," he said. "We were worried about some people not wanting to come out in the rain, but it ended by the time it was started, so it's still a little chilly outside, so that made it kind of good for people to want to come in and warm up."
The fraternity has done other fundraising events in the past, including selling grilled cheese in the Hargreaves Music Building lobby this semester, Edwards said. This time, however, the fraternity wanted to put its name out and interact with the community.
"We really wanted to get our name outside of the School of Music and become more known on campus, have more of a presence," he said.
While the fraternity has not yet designated where the money will go, Webb said it will talk about what schools to contact to help.
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