ORONO – On Friday, Feb. 22, the oldest fraternity at the University of Maine proved once again why it is the reigning Fraternity of the Year.

Nearly 50 members of Beta Theta Pi raised both $1,400 and awareness for Rape Response Services of Bangor by staying out in the unseasonably warm February air from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday.

Couches and chairs for the Beta sleep-out were set up outside the fraternity house and around a huge bonfire that burned all night.

While brothers were unable to leave the premises, they had many visitors, among them UMaine students and other members of Greek Life including fraternities Alpha Gamma Rho and Sigma Phi Epsilon, and sororities Pi Beta Phi, Phi Mu, Delta Zeta and Alpha Omicron Pi.

The chem-free sleep-out proved to be a success not only in money raised, but in participation. More than 325 students showed up to display their support for the cause.

Guests of honor for the evening included Rape Response Services representative Carey Nason and Deb Mitchell, a public safety specialist in violence toward women. Mitchell showed up in full uniform for the event, but later donned more casual wear to spend time with members of the student body.

The Beta sleep-out spawned a variety of memorable moments, including snowball fights, chair races and the building of snow sculptures here and there.

But Benjamin Wallace, a brother at Beta, showed everyone his expertise by building an igloo, top to bottom. Wallace, a senior majoring in parks and recreation, said that he used to make igloos with his siblings when he was younger. Here, too, he had a few helpers pack the snow throughout the night.

Other fraternity members chose the traditional cardboard boxes that are used every year. Bedtimes varied.

Some turned in early to make the night go faster, while others stayed up for the full 12 hours merely to keep warm by the fire.

At first, it seemed as though the idea of toasting marshmallows would have to be abandoned because the bonfire was so hot. But later, Daniel Francis and Matthew Hedrich came up with the concept of sticking a 2-by-4 with a few marshmallows on the end into the fire.

More marshmallows dropped off the wood than not, but the method found quite a few fans throughout the night.

The less adventurous opted for some of the free food provided for the event by the University of Maine. Hot chocolate, hot cider, and sweets were available, as well as two large orders of pizza, provided through a donation from the General Student Senate.

Jasper Hotchkiss, chairman of public relations and philanthropy for the fraternity, said he was happy with how the event turned out.

“Rape response is something we caught onto because they have a really tight budget, and we wanted to do something to better the local community,” Hotchkiss said. “We like supporting a cause that most people might think a fraternity would not usually support.”

Morale was high even as the evening slowly but surely turned into dawn. As the clock ticked down to the final seconds, there was a very enthusiastic countdown to end the sleep-out, Beta’s eighth in 10 years.

The brothers then went inside as quickly as they could, presumably to start making breakfast and begin the new day.

Actually, they all went to sleep.