Greek Week at MU gears up for greater participation

The four Greek councils are looking to promote unity.

By Megan Stroup

Published Feb. 17, 2009

Each spring, the sororities and fraternities of the Panhellenic Association and Interfraternity Council pair up for a competitive week of festivities, including royalty, service and games, known as Greek Week.

The week sometimes leaves out MU's other two Greek councils, the Multicultural Greek Council and the National Pan-Hellenic Council, which is made up of traditionally African-American chapters. This year, the councils are hoping to change that, PHA spokeswoman Lindsey Hoffman said.

"Traditionally Greek Week has been limited to PHA and IFC," Hoffman said. "We're making an effort to have MGC and NPHC involved as well."

After the first week of classes in January, representatives from all four Greek councils and the fraternity and sorority presidents went on a leadership retreat. At the retreat, Gamma Rho Lambda Secretary Melissa Ingrande said the councils shared a discussion about Greek unity.

"Greek unity is something we always try to accomplish," Ingrande said. "I think this year especially, a lot of people are being proactive."

Gamma Rho Lambda is a MGC sorority that has already been paired with PHA and IFC chapters for this spring's Greek Week. Gamma Rho Lambda is a progressive, all-inclusive sorority.

"Our chapter is really excited about it," Ingrande said. "It's a great experience for us because we're not typically involved in things like that."

Ingrande specified her sisters were especially excited about doing service events to help the community. Because MGC chapters are usually smaller, Ingrande explained it is hard for them to do things on a large scale.

The pairings for Greek Week were announced last semester, but Hoffman said there is always the option for MGC or NPHC to join a pairing. This is especially possible with smaller chapters, which Hoffman said provide great opportunities for additional partners.

In 2007, PHA sorority Pi Beta Phi was scheduled to participate in Greek Week with the Alpha Tau Omega and Acacia fraternities.

Pi Beta Phi President Blair Whitney said her chapter received a letter from Greek Life telling them ATO could no longer partner with her sorority.

Whitney said Sigma Chi and Kappa Alpha Psi, a traditionally African-American fraternity, joined the pairing after ATO left.

"I think it is great that Greek Life is extending the opportunity to MGC and NPHC to be in Greek Week," Whitney said. "In 2007 when Kappa Alpha Psi joined our pairing it was great to get some fresh faces and new ideas out in the mix."

Greek Life spokeswoman Elizabeth Kauffmann said in an e-mail Kappa Alpha Psi's participation in Greek Week was in no way correlated with ATO not participating.

Kauffman also said that NPHC and MGC organizations have participated in Greek Week in varying capacities over the past seven years, but this year more organizations have shown interest.

PHA President Caroline Vastyan also said in an e-mail MGC and NPHC chapters have participated in past Greek Weeks, but it differs yearly.

"I love to see collaboration between the four councils," Vastyan said. "Greek Week is a time for Greeks to celebrate being Greek, and the more the merrier!"

Greek Week Steering Committee representatives decide which fraternities and sororities are paired together but could not be reached for comment. Other Greek organizations are still able to join.

The Feb. 16 report "Greek Week at MU gears up for greater participation" reported that Blair Whitney was a member of the Phi Beta Pi sorority. The correct name of the sorority is Pi Beta Phi. The Maneater regrets the error.