Sorority asks college students for a good cause

By KYLE ODEGARD

Gazette-Times reporter

Oregon State University student Patrick Dengsot raised his hands in the air in triumph. "Yes!" the 19-year-old exclaimed. "Smartest man alive."

Actually, Patrick, you're just smarter than a fifth-grader. Which was really hard to accomplish during a charity rendition of the popular game show that the Delta Phi Omega Sorority hosted on campus Friday night.

"They're tricky questions. Random. Broad subjects," Dengsot said. Earlier, watching several friends fail, some by just one question, he complained the game was rigged, unbeatable.

Out of more than 10 contestants, only two succeeded, despite cheat lines and a "three strikes and you're out" rule. College students had to get 10 questions right - and then answer the "million-dollar question," without help, to win a bag of candy.

Alfred Do didn't succeed, and he had to hold a sign and say that he wasn't smarter than a fifth-grader. "Oh, wait, you're videotaping this?" he asked a woman who, in fact, was doing just that.

"We were prepared to have at least 10 winners," said Stephanie Zhao, a member of Delta Phi Omega and event organizer. Greek houses and groups at OSU each raise money and volunteer to help specific causes. Delta Phi Omega, a no-house, Asian-based, multi-cultural sorority, organized the event to raise money for children's literacy and education. Proceeds will to be donated to education funds for the benefit of young people from emerging countries that do not offer public education.

About 30 people attended the "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" event, and the fundraising continues tonight, when the sorority is hosting a DJ'd event from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Platinum, 125 S.W. Fourth St. The cover charge is $5.

Kyle Odegard covers Oregon State University. He can be contacted at kyle.odegard@lee.net or 758-9523.

Test yourself

Things a fifth-grader would know. Do you?

1. Which one of these is not an arachnid? A. Scorpion. B. Cricket. C. Tick.

2. How many factors does the number 12 have?

3. In 1803, Thomas Jefferson spent $15 million on a big land deal known as what?

4. In what unusual vessel did Wynken, Blynken and Nod sail away?

5. What is the transparent covering on the outside of the eye called?

(Answers provided at the article's end; no cheating, please.)

PUZZLE ANSWERS: 1. B; 2. 6; 3. The Louisiana Purchase; 4. A wooden shoe 5. The cornea