College of Pharmacy continues ‘Breaking Down the MU’

Fast motion freezes, headspins, kicks and drops will enliven the MU Ballroom as dance crews compete in today’s “Breaking Down the MU,” sponsored by the College of Pharmacy.

In its second year, Breaking Down the MU combines two very different events, a health fair and a breakdancing competition. This year, organizers have reached out for a greater variety of dance crews and promotions.

“This year we have groups from everywhere,” said Mike Sisson, OSU National Community Pharmacists Association president and event coordinator.

The health fair will begin at 5 p.m. with College of Pharmacy screening events including flu shots, free blood glucose and blood pressure checks, and information about the college. Students involved in the National Community Pharmacists Association and the Entrepreneurial Academy, focused on the business of pharmacy, will be able to answer questions. Dr. Gary DeLander, pharmacy professor, will serve as a guest speaker for the event.

“The health fair will express what pharmacy is, showing how pharmacists can perpetuate ideas of personal health,” Sisson said. “Pharmacists don’t just provide pills, but do a lot more.”

The breakdance competition will follow the fair at 6:30 p.m. Crews from Washington, Oregon, California and Canada will compete — a much greater spread than last year’s more localized dance groups. The winning crew will have a chance to dance in Play Your Cards Right 2013, a competition in Vancouver, B.C. Events will break up into one-vs.-one all-style battles and two-vs.-two showcases and battles.

“We don’t have many dancing events here in Corvallis, it’s good that [Sisson is helping] out,” said Khang Nguyen, pre-pharmacy student and dance competition coordinator. “Last year mostly local people came, and this year hopefully we can put the event on the map to attract dancers from [Medford] and California.”

Nguyen, who has connections to a dance crew in Portland, worked to sign up the list of groups expected to attend. An effort, according to Sisson, that began last summer. Last year about 200 people attended the event, and this year Nguyen wants 500 people to attend. Based on promotional efforts so far, including posters and fliers in the MU quad, Nguyen aims for about 350 to 400 people. The maximum standing capacity of the MU ballroom is 550.

“Getting these groups to come  down will hopefully make the scene a little bigger,” Nguyen said. “Many of these groups will be heading to [Beaverton] for a competition and have also chosen to compete here.”

Tickets for Breaking Down the MU can be purchased at Snell Hall or at the door. The event costs $8 for students with ID and $10 for non-students. Attendees who visit health fair booths will be eligible for a series of raffles held throughout the evening.

Jack Lammers, news editor
On Twitter @jacklammers
news@dailybarometer.com