The T-shirts say “Come Play” — and that’s exactly what sororityand fraternity members hope students will do during Northwestern’sfirst annual Greek Week.
Greek Week, which begins Sunday and lasts until May 4, marks thefirst time NU’s Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Association,National Pan-Hellenic Council and Multiculural Greek Council havecome together to program an entire week of events for thecampus.
The week will feature a mix of fun and philanthropy, with eventsranging from a weeklong blood drive to an outdoor concert on Fridayfeaturing pop-rock band Blessid Union of Souls.
Steven Pomerantz, IFC programming chairman, said a Greek Week atNU is long overdue.
“Every other school with a good Greek system has a Greek Week,”said Pomerantz, a Weinberg junior. “There’s no reason Northwesternalumni, faculty and the Evanston community shouldn’t see a GreekWeek and realize how strong we are.”
All activities are free and open to the entire campuscommunity.
“We’re expecting attendance from all chapters and members fromall of campus,” said Erin Neal, Panhel vice president ofprogramming. “The events appeal to a wide range of people, not justthe Greek community.”
The week kicks off Sunday with a Developmental Disability DayKids Carnival co-sponsored with Special Olympics. Chapter memberswill run game booths, paint faces and serve food on the Lakefillfor NU students and kids with disabilities from 11 a.m. to 3p.m.
Reformed neo-Nazi activist and recruiter Tom “TJ” Leyden willspeak Tuesday about acceptance. Neal said she hopes Leyden’s speechwill promote tolerance and “provide a thought-provoking discussionon diversity.”
Both Pomerantz and Neal said the response from the Greekcommunity about the week has been overwhelmingly positive. Greekshave snapped up Greek Week shirts, and tickets to the Chicago Cubsgame on May 5th are almost sold out, Neal said.
“It’s going to be great to see the Greeks at Wrigley wearingpurple,” Pomerantz said.
Panhel and IFC are offering points for chapters’ attendance atevents. The Greek Week chapter competition culminates with GreekOlympics: a day of wheelbarrow races, egg tosses and dizzy bats.The victorious chapter will receive an award at a banquet onSunday. These events are for members of the Greek communityonly.
Pi Beta Phi member Cara Bottjen said her sorority has promotedGreek Week in the past month at chapter meetings and on theirlistserv. Most members can’t wait for Greek Week to begin and willsport shirts that read “Damn, it feels good to be a Pi Phi” to showtheir Greek pride.
Pomerantz said he hopes a successful Greek Week will result inthe event occurring every year.
“It seems like we’re starting a great tradition,” Pomerantzsaid.
