By Kayla Walker
Monday marked the conclusion of the University’s Greek Week, ending the annual and enthusiasm-filled stretch of fraternity and sorority-sponsored activities. Most colleges and universities celebrate some form of Greek Week, a seven-day period that not only strengthens ties between campus Greek organizations, but also expresses unity with those nationwide.
A major feature of Greek Week is its spirited series of competitions, senior Rommel Mateo and a Phi Iota Alpha member said. Sorority and fraternity members displayed their artistic skills through a banner contest, in which each Greek organization handmade and decorated banners with its respective mascot. A chariot race, which pits organizations’ vehicle designs against each other, is a harkening back to a classical era.
Sports also figure prominently into Greek Week, as sorority and fraternity members engage in a number of such friendly competitions. Matteo notes the wide range of athletic tournaments, which include swimming, bowling, football, softball, dodgeball, volleyball and soccer.
Aside from these lively and recreational events, Greek Week is also a time for community awareness. While fraternities and sororities participate in community service projects year-round, Dennis Camacho, assistant director of student activities, spoke glowingly of Greek Week’s “canned castle drive.” The event brought the Greek organizations together to collect an estimated 7,200 pounds of recyclables. All proceeds were donated to the Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN).
Other critical and time-honored components of Greek Week are its opening and closing ceremonies. The week’s commencement was centered around “Songs of Love.” Each year John Beltzer’s Songs of Love Foundation composes ballads for children coping with serious illness, with the lyrics of the song mirroring each child’s unique struggles and hopes. This year’s song honored the courageous fight of Joshua Jimenez, who is currently battling leukemia.
The University currently consists of 19 fraternities and 12 sororities with an estimated six percent of University students belonging to a Greek organization. Greek Week participants praised the event as a way to strengthen ties between members of the Greek community as well as a way to aid the larger community.
“It’s a great time to bond with fellow fraternity and sorority members and it allows us to do good for the community while having fun,” Mateo said.
“It was definitely a memorable experience and I’m looking forward to it next year,” Tania Bellia, freshman and Alpha Phi member, said.