Evening Of The Arts Raises Roof To Help Indy Homeless

It was standing room only when emcees Joel Priddy and Chris Prater, both third-year medical students, raised the curtain at University Place Conference Center auditorium March 24. Students performed a variety of instrumental and vocal music and dance routines. The music ranged from classical Chopin to Weird Al Yankovich, and from Broadway's Les Miserables to Bob Dylan. Students introduced the audience to ethnic choreography from India and the Dance of Lights from the Philippines.

During set changes, there was time for stitches and witches. Students also "starred" in video parodies of two recent films, The Fight Club and The Blair Witch Project. Photographs and other visual works by students were displayed outside the auditorium and went to the highest bidders in an evening-long silent auction. The two-act show played to a sellout crowd, and a record-setting $9,000 was raised in ticket sales, donations and from the auction.

"Since the late 1980s, IU medical students have volunteered time in medical clinics serving the homeless and working poor of Indianapolis," says fourth-year student Lisa Tiongson, co-chair of this year's event. "Students spend their time under the direct supervision of School of Medicine physicians and meet one-on-one with the needy members of our community."

Evening of the Arts began in 1992, when a group of medical students had the idea of holding an event to showcase the varied talents of students, faculty members and administrators. Net proceeds from the gala are used to purchase equipment and supplies for clinics where students also provide many hours of service.