Greek life organizations are working together this week to raise money for nonprofit organizations and have fun along the way.
ASU’s Greek Week began Tuesday and ends Monday. The week is held to create a fun environment that brings the ASU Greek community together through events in which teams can earn points based upon their involvement and competiveness.
At the end of the week, a check of all proceeds raised through fundraising and donations will be written and distributed to Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, St. Mary’s Food Bank and the American Cancer Society.
On Wednesday a total of $7,839.04 was raised from donations during an event called Silver Wars, where anyone can donate nickels, dimes, quarters and cash, said Jeanette Bravo, a second-year public relations director for Greek Week and Gamma Phi Beta member.
Bravo has been actively involved in the American Cancer Society for the past six years.
“It’s important to advocate to others the importance of raising money for such a great cause,” said Bravo, a communication and tourism development and management junior.
Panhellenic Council member and Gamma Phi Beta member April Morgan said Greek Life members are required to be involved in other organizations and clubs.
Best Buddies, St. Mary’s Food Bank and the American Cancer Society all have volunteers from Greek Life.
“It’s about the community, not just us,” said Morgan, an education and biology senior.
This year's theme for Greek Week is the “Best Greek Week Ever,” like the VH1 channel's “Best Week Ever” program.
During the week, different teams of sororities and fraternities compete against each other. Each Greek team is made up of different chapters from the five different councils here at ASU. For every team, there are two fraternities and one sorority.
There are more than 50 fraternities and sororities at ASU, with more than 3,000 students participating, according to the ASU Greek Life website.
The teams are named after different television channels, like NBC, Discovery, Nickelodeon, Food Network, MTV, PBS, VH1, ABC, Fox, TLC, E! and Disney.
Sentinel of Sigma Nu Matt Whiteside said an important part of Greek Week is organization because most teams are composed of three to four chapters.
“We’ve all got to be on the same page if we want to bring home the big ‘W,’” said Whiteside, an accounting and supply chain management senior.
One of the favored events by all teams is Greek Sing, an event held April 18 at Gammage Auditorium.
This is a dance competition among all of the teams. The competition is based on choreography, costumes and overall performance.
“My favorite part of Greek Week is without a doubt Greek Sing,” Whiteside said. “I never pass up an opportunity to dominate the competition on the dance floor.”
Pi Beta Phi Greek Sing captain Courtney Sheber helped Pi Beta Phi win Greek Sing last year and hopes to repeat the victory.
“The fact that Greek Week is such a major competition makes it an amazing fundraising opportunity,” said Sheber, an interdisciplinary studies and dance senior. “Knowing that all our hard work goes to such phenomenal organizations makes the experience that much more rewarding.”
Wednesday night kicked off Greek Week with opening ceremonies held at Physical Education West.
The teams had a letter check-in, where members wore their Greek letters, signed in and received a T-shirt.
The number of T-shirts purchased by each team was counted toward Greek points. After this, teams participated in a relay race and obstacle course.
On Sunday for the first time, there was window painting on the north side of the Memorial Union. Different teams created paintings on the windows of the MU that incorporated the Greek Week theme, ASU and team chapters.
The winner of Greek Week is determined by the number of points a team receives through winning events and raising money. The winner gets the bragging rights of being Greek Week champion and trophies.
Alpha Phi member Emily Johnson said she believes her team, which includes Alpha Phi, Theta Chi and Alpha Sigma Phi, has a good shot at winning.
They have all worked really hard and spent a lot of time raising money for Relay for Life and practicing for Greek Sing.
“No matter who wins, Greek Week is a great time for all of the Greek community to come together for friendly competition and get to know other chapters on campus,” said Johnson, a broadcast journalism junior.
The Relay for Life event will take place in the Sun Angel Stadium on April 15 and 16.
“In the beginning, some may have thought we were a little too ambitious for setting a $10,000 goal for Relay for Life,” Delta Zeta President Emily Erwin said.
Because people thought their goal was too high, and because of their sisters whose lives have been affected by cancer, they were motivated to surpass that goal, said Erwin, a journalism senior.
Reach the reporter at: tchavez3@asu.edu
