From fraternity pledges giving sorority members roses to chapters eating dinner together, Northwestern’s Gone Greek Night has thrived on tradition.
And after Saturday’s festivities went as planned, Greek leaders say the tradition will live on despite a warning that this might be the event’s last year.
A time to celebrate the new pledge classes of each fraternity and sorority, Gone Greek Night includes chapters pairing up to eat dinner together, new fraternity pledges serenading sorority members and parties at different locations throughout Evanston and Chicago.
Interfraternity Council President Dustin Cook said the night went “remarkably well.”
“We let people know that we had to have a successful Gone Greek Night in order to ensure its future here on campus,” said Cook, a McCormick senior. “And besides it being a little cold out, I think the night went great.”
Panhellenic Association President Sarah Personette said the executive board spent most of the year trying to improve the event.
“We wanted chapters to be more in control of their members,” said Personette, a Weinberg senior. “Gone Greek Night should be a positive experience, and I think this year was a huge improvement over past years.”
Participating in one of their first Greek events, many pledges said the night reaffirmed why they chose to go Greek.
Speech freshman Jeremy Cohen, who pledged Chi Psi, said the night was one to remember.
“It was freezing while we were singing outside, but it was so much fun,” he said.
Before the serenading began, fraternities were supposed to have dinner at sorority houses. While many houses did eat together as planned, some fraternities decided to boycott that part of the night rather than pay for their dinner.
“Because of of some financial issues, some of the eating at sorority houses fell through,” Cook said. “But a lot of frats still did it and had a great time.”
After the singing, chapters boarded buses and went off to parties.
Alpha Pi, Pi Beta Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Sigma, Sigma Nu and Delta Kappa Epsilon spent the night dancing at The Keg of Evanston.
“It was so crowded, but at the same time was a great start to my Greek experience,” said Kappa Sig pledge Steve Ryan, a Weinberg freshman.
While Delta Gamma, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Delta Delta, Chi Psi, Phi Delta Theta, Delta Tau Delta and Phi Gamma Delta traveled to the Radisson Hotel in Skokie, Kappa Delta, Gamma Phi Beta, Delta Upsilon, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Phi Kappa Psi spent the evening at El Jardin.
Alpha Chi Omega, Zeta Beta Tau and Delta Chi had a smaller gathering at the Cubby Bear Lounge.
Alpha Chi pledge and Weinberg freshman Rachel Oppenheim said although her event was more low-key, it was nice to know that every girl there was from her house.
The night was a first for Alpha Delta Pi, which was participating in Gone Greek Night as NU’s newest sorority.
ADPi went to Rink Side Sports with Chi Omega, Delta Zeta, Chi Phi and Beta Theta Pi. ADPi colony consultant Amanda Sloan said they were excited to be a part of Gone Greek Night.
“Everything we do for the first time is obviously new and wonderful for us,” she said. “We had a disc jockey, played laser tag and went ice skating. We had something for everyone.”
