The sounds of rap and hip-hop disseminated throughout the University Union today as Epsilon Sigma Rho, a multicultural fraternity at Sacramento State, organized a disc jockey battle to raise awareness for prostate cancer, the most common type of cancer among men.

The fraternity collaborated with Impact, a program funded by the California Department of Health Services, which provides free prostate cancer treatment for low income men with no or little health insurance.

Prostate cancer starts in the cells of the prostate gland. When a man has prostate cancer, its cells grow into a tumor, according to Impact’s website. These cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body.

Jesus Gonzalez, senior communications major and vice president of Internal Affairs of Epsilon Sigma Rho, said that the fraternity wanted to hold a unique event that would provide students an opportunity to learn about prostate cancer.

“(The fraternity) decided on a DJ battle to raise awareness, because we wanted people to get involved. (Anyone) can just come in, learn about the cancer, listen to some music and, if they can, donate money to the cause,” he said.

Students learned about prostate cancer, courtesy of information provided by Impact, and watched a free DJ show organized by members of different fraternities.

Disc jockey Mario Escobar, senior graphic design major, said the event was designed to provide “a live show for people to watch and raise money (for the cause) while (they) were doing it.”

Epsilon Sigma Rho held several events to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer. In 2006, the fraternity organized Sorority Kickball, an event where five sororities on campus donated $50 each to play in a kickball tournament. All the funds raised at the event were donated to the California Prostate Cancer Coalition.

Sac State President Alexander Gonzalez said in the past three years, Epsilon Sigma Rho donated approximately $750 to CPCC. He said he hopes today’s DJ battle will raise at least $500.

Princess Garnace can be reached at [email protected].