Fraternities, Sororities Compete in Greek Week

Saturday marked the beginning of Greek Week, a weeklong event designed to celebrate solidarity among members of the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC), Emory Panhellenic Council (EPC), Interfraternity Council (IFC) and National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), according to College senior and EPC Vice President of Programming Katherine Joseph.

In an email to the Wheel, Joseph wrote that fraternities and sororities form seven teams comprised of multiple fraternities and sororities that compete against each other in events throughout the week, ranging from a Greek Day of Service to trivia and powderpuff football.

Teams also get points for coming out to support the other members of their teams, Joseph wrote.

"After the yearlong effort the Greek community puts into supporting several philanthropies and leading community service projects and the time it dedicates to academics, [we] deserve to have a week where we can compete against each other in a friendly and fun environment," Joseph wrote. "Greek Week is designed to be a good time for everyone competing, as well as an amazing opportunity for new freshmen to interact with and meet the Greeks!"

The event began Saturday with a Greek Day of Service, where members participated in activities ranging from running a cheer station at the Winship 5K on Emory's campus to working at the LifeLine Animal Project.

There was also a block party held on Eagle Row, where, Joseph wrote, many freshmen interested in Greek Life had a good chance to meet people outside the formal recruitment process. The block party featured attractions ranging from a mechanical "shark" rodeo machine to an inflatable slide.

"The block party was a great success this year because all the councils contributed to the effort, and [made it] a really wonderful event to share all together," Joseph wrote. "We were also really happy that so many freshmen came out to enjoy the evening with us."

College freshman Alex Brewer said that the block party showed him a side of Greek Life that wasn't just about partying.

"It was a lot of fun, and all kinds of people seemed to be having fun," Brewer said. "The mechanical shark rodeo was also hilarious."

Last night, the powderpuff football game involved fraternity-coached teams of sorority women who competed on the freshman quad.

Greek Week continues with Tuesday's Trivia Night at Slice & Pint Pizza Place and Brewery in Emory Village, a Greek Week-themed Wonderful Wednesday and culminates with team dinners and the announcement of the week's champion on Thursday.

College junior Emily Dixon, Delta Phi Epsilon sorority's special events coordinator, said that Greek Week is an enjoyable experience for all involved.

"What I love about Greek Week is that it gives a chance for all of the Greek organizations to work together and get to know each other better," Dixon said. "Greek Week is great because it offers a variety of activities, like powderpuff or trivia, so each member of a team has an opportunity to show their talents."

Goizueta Business School junior David Schupper, Zeta Beta Tau fraternity's Greek Week representative, said that Greek Week has been off to a great start.

"There is a great programming schedule containing many events that Greek community members have been excited to participate in," Schupper said. "This is always one of my favorite weeks of the year because Greek Life gets to come together to grow as a community."

Schupper also said that this week is a chance to strengthen Greek Life's part in the Emory community's web.

"Not only does this week involve direct community interaction during our day of service, but also it allows so many of Emory's students to come together for a unified cause to strengthen that community bond," he said.

Joseph wrote that she is excited for the rest of the week's events to unfold.

"What I am looking forward to most over the next few days is seeing Greeks from different councils and from chapters that don't mix as often, really get to know each other better," Joseph wrote. "Emory, and the Greek community in particular, offers a really diverse, passionate and interesting group of people, and it is exciting for us all to have the chance to take advantage of that!"

– By Stephen Fowler, Assistant News Editor

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