Changes come to Greek Week
This year's event aims to build community relationships.
Published Feb. 19, 2010
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Granny's House, located at 302 Trinity Place, will be one of the 14 beneficiaries for Greek Week 2010. The Greek Week directors are aiming to donate $10,000 to each of the organizations.
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The number of beneficiaries for Greek Week has increased to 14, compared to last year's eight.
Greek Week Director Sean Burrell said there are usually seven to eight beneficiaries chosen, depending on the year.
"We felt we could meet the need of 14 beneficiaries," Greek Week Director Hannah Vargon said. "So we felt why not expand our reach a little bit in what we're giving and do 14."
Vargon said it also coincides with the number of fraternity and sorority pairings they have for this year.
"We're going to really try to focus our attention on the chapters becoming involved with the beneficiaries, so they can actually see and know where their money is going to," Greek Week Director Robbie Penzell said.
Penzell said he hopes it would help to build relationships that extend past Greek Week. Chapters would really get to know the beneficiaries so they're not just handing over a check.
"It all goes back to our mission statement that we changed this year," Greek Life Graduate Assistant Stacie Baker said. "We're really trying to focus on the community and service, so all of the changes that we made go back to that, to challenging not just the Greek community, but the entire community and kind of bringing the two together."
Baker said there has been a separation between the Greek community and Columbia community in the past, and this year they are trying to make it more cohesive.
"We want to make the Greek community more involved in service, and hopefully this will open more doors for people to be more involved," Penzell said. "So when they might not have known how to get involved or how to volunteer, this will be another avenue for them to participate in service."
Penzell said there's going to be a lot of significant changes to multiple facets of Greek Week 2010.
"We think that every change we made is going to be for the better," Penzell said. "We hope that it's not just for this year, that it's for years to come."
Other changes for Greek Week 2010 will be announced at a later date.
"Last year's donations were $13,500 for the eight beneficiaries, and this year we're hoping to get around $10,000 per beneficiary," Burrell said. "So a bit of a lofty goal, but I think we can meet it."
Between 60 and 80 applications were submitted. Greek Week Director Beth Ford was responsible for sorting through the applications.
"She read through each one and did a bunch of background research," Burrell said.
Penzell said they wanted to get a diverse group of beneficiaries.
Applicants were asked to give the specific ways in which they would use the donation, if chosen.
"That was one of the things we took into account, was when they had very specific goals for what they were going to do with the money," Vargon said.
Vargon said the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center plans to re-outfit its Wyatt Guest House.
"Everyone has a really good reason for needing money," Burrell said. "That's why they were chosen."
11:59 a.m., Feb. 22, 2010
Daniel E. Sewell said:
I want to thank everyone on the Faculty Council for approving the recommendation from Professor Tom Phillips, Dr. Anne Korschgen, and the rest of the Military Transfer Credit Task Force. This act will acknowledge prior military education and training as legitimate academic credit here at MU. Although it was a long deliberative process, I have always felt that this is one of the most beneficial measures that would assist in aiding veteran’s transition here to the University of Missouri. Further, I would also like to acknowledge the administration, faculty, staff, and students that have worked with our organization to help MU become a veteran-friendly campus; none of the progress that has been made would have been possible without their assistance and support. I feel that the University of Missouri has set itself apart in becoming a veteran-friendly campus, not only within the state of Missouri, but also throughout the U. S. as well. MU is continually looked at as the model of what other universities and colleges strive for when determining what is best for veterans returning to campus. In return, I have always expressed to the members of the Mizzou Student Veterans Association (MSVA) the importance of giving back not only to the university community, which has given so much to us, but also to give and serve our local community. Veterans tend to be a unique subset of the student population on a campus. That being said, we are not a group that is defined by race, creed, color, or gender, but rather are defined by our individual experiences. These experiences, as well as our willingness to serve, allow for opportunities to help others around us. I have always encouraged all veterans not to isolate themselves from the University, but rather to become involved with the students and faculty on campus. In turn, this has fostered relationships around campus that have helped returning veterans to deal with the difficultly of transitioning back into civilian life. I am confident that as the time pasts, and as veterans continue to return to civilian life, others around campus will continue to aid veterans in this transition process. Finally, I would like to personally thank Chancellor Brady Deaton for having the foresight to root out the issues that veterans face and then dealing with these issues head on. I would also like to thank Dr. Jim Spain, Dr. Cathy Scroggs, Dr. Phil Deming, as well as everyone within Student Activities, Enrollment Management, Financial Aid, MSA/GPC, and the many others, too many to name, that have personally invested their time and effort with assisting veterans here at Mizzou. I am continually reminded by student-veterans how happy and thankful they are with all that Mizzou has done and is continually doing for them. Daniel E. Sewell Former President, Mizzou Student Veterans Association