The Order of Scroll and Key, commonly known as the Grey Hats, in association with the Event Advisory Board (EAB) made sure voices were raised when it hosted Kickback Karaoke, its second karaoke event fundraiser, on Thursday Nov. 3 at the Depot. Inside the Depot, with voices screeching to Lady Gaga’s hit, “Alejandro”, the atmosphere was vibrant and full of energy. Approximately 50 people from a variety of backgrounds attended and the room was decorated with dark, relaxing lights, lots of candy and snacks, and a table where people could donate to the cause, Common Roads.

Common Roads is a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth education program located in Central Pennsylvania, which helps a lot of students and young people a like, explained Grey Hat Gaven Trinidad ’12. He said Common Roads usually has weekly meetings where people can “commonly learn” about outreach education, including a leadership summit, where the organization encourages “youth to be activists”, and is “open to all of Dickinson.” Gaven was happy with the turnout, despite the two-week postponement of the event. Gaven explains that initially the event was scheduled for Friday Oct. 7, but, “because of Yom Kippur,” they decided to reschedule it. “This has a multi-purpose to it,” he says, where “all [the] campus [is] engaged.”

Grey Hat Charlie Alcorn ’12, said the idea of a karaoke night began last year when two previous Grey Hats came up with it “on the fly.” He said the ultimate decision was up to the group when they decided to do it again this year. The group hired a professional karaoke emcee, which kept the audience alive and engaged. Alcorn described the event as a place “where students and faculty can have fun…developing relationships.” His highlight was “getting on stage and everyone having a good time,” saying that he “never sang” before. The members of the Grey Hats are involved in disciplinary areas and are trying to be more present and involved on campus. They are trying to facilitate more critical thinking sort of questions between students and staff. One issue they discuss frequently during their meetings is gender roles on campus and ways of making a successful impact on campus.

Guest a cappella groups The Octals, The Syrens and The Infernos performed a couple of songs for the event. Adding to the cheerful mood. The Infernos sang the infamous Disney Mulan song, “I’ll Make a Man Out of You.” The crowd was definitely engaged with the performance, and many were eagerly waiting for their turn to try and woo the crowd. Even the girls of The Wheel and Chair Society (Blue Hats) sang whole-heartedly along to the Spice Girls’ “Wannabee.”

The evening only just began to simmer with a sassy performance involving Grey Hats Trinidad and Austin Farneth ’12. Karaoke Kickback started at 8 p.m. and lasted till 12 a.m.

For more information on Common Roads, leadership summit, or The Order of Scroll and Key, visit: http://www.centralpalgbtcenter.org/common-roads/about, or e-mail grayhats@dickinson.edu.