Thursday, Feb. 12, 1998

Gift of song

Fraternity offers melodic Valentine messages

By MEREDITH O'DONNELL
Collegian Staff Writer

For the next three days, Jordan Ullman and Wesley George will spend 51 hours singing.

Ullman and George are members of the Dreamers, Phi Mu Alpha's a cappella group. The all-male group is delivering singing Valentines from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. today through Saturday, said George (sophomore-telecommunications).

"We look at it as a different little thing you can do for your significant other."

- Wesley George (sophomore-telecommunications)

There are about 16 members of the Dreamers, who dress in suits and ties on the day of serenades, he said.

Performing and still making class is not a problem, Ullman (senior-film and video) said.

"We have enough members of the group to make class and still have enough people to sing," Ullman said. "But we try to travel with as many people as we can."

The serenades can be purchased from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the HUB Basement this week. The Dreamers' serenades are a fund-raiser for the professional music fraternity, George said.

"We look at it as a different little thing you can do for your significant other," George said.

For $10, the Dreamers will deliver a song and a rose to any location -- whether it's a dorm room, an apartment or during a class, Ullman said.

"We go anywhere people tell us to," George said. "We'll interrupt classes in the Forum, or anywhere."

Most professors do not have a problem with the interruption, he added.

"Once or twice (professors) won't let us in . . . but most of the time they're very accommodating -- they tend to enjoy it themselves," Ullman said.

Bonj Szczygiel, assistant professor of landscape architecture, said she would not object to a short song performed in her class, which is taught in the Forum.

"If I had an idea of when they were coming by, I wouldn't have a problem with it," she said.

Other responses to the serenades can be varied, George said.

"We get everything from embarrassment to people almost breaking down in tears," George said. "They usually enjoy it, but it depends on the setting."

A classroom can be an especially embarrassing place for a serenade, although no one has ever turned the singers away, he added.

"I would be mortified," said Carrie Dudek (sophomore-biology). "I wouldn't run out, but I'd be very embarrassed."

The Dreamers sing a number of different romance tunes, including "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling", "Can't Help Falling in Love with You," "In the Still of the Night," "Brown-Eyed Girl," "Blue Moon" and "Unchained Melody."