Posted on April 16, 2007
JMU’s 12 fraternities and eight sororities came together to participate in Greek Week, an event designed to strengthen relations between Greek organizations and foster a sense of community throughout JMU and Harrisonburg.
This year’s Greek Week differed from those in past years, as it was restructured to build up inner Greek relations.
“This year we teamed Greeks in groups of chapters based on size and scored them together, “ said Kristine Rigley, a graduate assistant for Fraternity and Sorority Life. “This way, team chapters worked together rather than competing against each other.”
The pairing of chapters was crucial in getting fraternities to participate in an event that is normally dominated by sororities.
“Pairing up with fraternities really helped everyone get involved,” said Liz Carpenter, a junior member of Alpha Sigma Tau. “It created a sense of support and community because not everyone was paired up with someone they would normally be with.”
Many participants said that the new component of teamwork helped make Greek Week an event that focused on collaboration and positive relationships between fraternities and sororities.
“It was really nice because it got us involved with each other,” said Rebecca Miller, senior Alpha Sigma Tau member. “There was more cohesion among Greek life and helped us work together rather than be overly competitive.”
In addition to the change in format, the week was also unique because all of the chapters on JMU’s campus chose to participate, something that has not occurred in several years.
The week began at 4 p.m. on Monday on the Festival Center Lawn with the start of Shak-a-thon, where teams of Greeks built shacks to sleep in throughout the week.
“Someone has to be there 24 hours a day get a feel of what life is like to be homeless,” Rigley said. “It gave the Greeks an idea of what it’s like to work in a person’s shoes who is less fortunate.”
Shak-a-thon is one of many events during Greek week that are meant to encourage a sense of service within Greek life.
The main philanthropy event of the week occurred on Wednesday, when 368 JMU Greeks went to the local Boys and Girls Club to interact with young Harrisonburg residents. The students who participated ran workshops about college, helped students with their homework and played games.
Chapters also collected more than 6,500 cans within the Greek community that they plan to donate.
The week culminated with Greek Sing, the most popular event of the week. Sororities and fraternities spent around three months preparing a routine incorporating props, hand movements, singing and dance steps.
This year the event made approximately $5,000, half of which goes to the winner’s philanthropy of choice. The winners of this year’s Greek Sing were Alpha Sigma Alpha, Zeta Tau Alpha and Delta Delta Delta.
“We also use it as a spring recruitment,” Carpenter said. “It’s a great way to get our name [out] and let people know what we’re all about.”
The overall sorority winners of Greek Week were: Alpha Sigma Alpha, Zeta Tau Alpha and Delta Delta Delta. The overall fraternity winners of Greek Week were Theta Chi, Kappa Alpha order and Pi Kappa Alpha.
“The purpose of Greek Week is to give back to the community and working together to improve Greek relationships,” Rigley said. “The teaming was a brand new idea in working together and strengthening their communication.”
