Greek community unites

Greek Week battles weather to hold carnival, fund raiser

Kathryn Gariano/ staff photographer Freshman Kate McGowan and junior Amy Ground, members of Sigma Chi sorority, dance in Friday night's Greek Sing.

Alpha Phi sorority and Delta Chi fraternity won the annual Greek Week last week, even though several events were disrupted and relocated due to rain.

"Our main purpose [in Greek Week] is to bring the Greek community together and incorporate the JMU community while raising money for our causes," said sophomore Katie Miller, a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and the Greek Week Core Committee.

Junior Ashley Polo, a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority and the Greek Week Core Committee, said, "The biggest misconception is that [the sorority and fraternity communities] are just social groups, but [Greek Week] is about giving back to the community."

Weather had an impact on the week's events. Monday's Greek Olympics were cancelled due to inclement weather. Then Tuesday's Commons Day became Transitions Day when rain forced some events to be moved indoors. The day included Las Vegas-inspired activities such as as a showing of "Ocean's Eleven" in Grafton-Stovall Theatre, Karaoke Night and wing-eating contest at The Pub and a Penny Wars competition between the chapters in Transitions Tuesday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Bystanders could leave pennies in their favorite sorority or fraternity's slot machine. Whomever had the most money in pennies at the end won, but points were taken away for the amount of money that wasn't pennies. They could also vote on their favorites for Mr. and Ms. Greek 2004. Students were encouraged to participate in the all-day blood drive in Transitions for the Harrisonburg Free Clinic, which buys medicine and other supplies to support the Harrisonburg community's less fortunate.

Wednesday's event was a Kids Carnival for the Harrisonburg community on the College Center lawn from 5 to 7 p.m. Eight sororities and one fraternity set up booths for games to interact with the children of the Harrisonburg community.

"We decided to have a carnival to reach out to the Harrisonburg community and so the [Greek community] could showcase their creativity," Polo said. "It's such a good opportunity to do so much for so many people."

Sophomore Alex Boyce, a member of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity, said, "We wanted to do our part to connect with the younger generation instead of just other Greeks."

Greek Week continued outside when the sun appeared for Thursday's Kickball and Crest Drawing. The JMU community was encouraged to bring an entrée or dessert and play kickball with the Greek community.

The week ended with Greek Sing, where eight sororities and two fraternities competed in the battle of props and dance. Greek Sing judges were faculty, staff, alumni and people from the Harrisonburg community. At the end of the show, the Delta Delta Delta sorority and Delta Chi fraternity won.

This year's Greek Week theme was "Viva Las Vegas." All proceeds went to Books for Babies, an organization in the Harrisonburg and Shenandoah Valley area that purchases books for children who do not own any, and the Harrisonburg Free Clinic.