Marshall University’s Greek community came together for its annual Greek Week competitions last week.
Greek Week showcases the community’s Greek unity, and raises money for different causes.
“We try to incorporate everyone,” said Conner Richberg, panhellenic enrichment executive. “We always have sporting events for the athletes, but this year we included a tailgating event where we had different activities that people who weren’t athletic could excel at as well, like corn hole. We also had a cake decorating competition for the more artsy Greek members, along with an eating competition for people who love to eat.”
Richberg and Elliot Lasendyk, vice president of campus and community programs for the Interfraternity Council, were elected as head of the 2015 Greek Week competitions.
“We volunteered to interview for the position to plan Greek week,” Lasendyk said. “Then after that we were elected by the delegates of on the IFC and PHC chairs. We put a lot of hard work in after hours to try and make everything fair for all of our chapters within our community.”
A local restaurant played a major role in one of the Greek Week competitions this year.
“We partnered with Paula Vega cupcakes and they donated all of the cakes, frosting and supplies needed for the cake decorating/eating contest this week,” Richberg said.
Fraternities and sororities are not required to participate in Greek Week but it is encouraged.
“Everyone likes trophie and getting awards,” Amber Lancaster, Fraternity and Sorority Life advisor said. “But, I think they all participate because it is a good recruitment tool to encourage new, potential members to join their chapters by showing them all of the big things they are doing.”
Fraternities and Sororities each set personal goals within their chapters throughout Greek Week.
“Greek Week is more about unity and less about competition, so I tried to stress that to my girls this year,” said senior Karlee Lane, president of Alpha Chi Omega. “Our goal was just to have a good time. Of course everyone wants to win, but we just wanted to focus on coming together and bonding.”
Senior Jacob Adkins, president of Pi Kappa Pi said the long hours of dancing were worth it.
“I loved competing in the Greek Week philanthropy event, Dance Thunder,” Adkins said. “It was huge and we raised a lot of money for the cause. It was 24 hours straight of dancing, but well worth it in the end.”
Lane said Greek Week displays a positive representation of the Greek community to the campus.
“We are more than just a stereotype,” Lane said. “A lot of people have an idea of what they think Greek Life is about and it’s not always true. It’s really about sisterhood, bringing people together, making connections, networking and learning leadership skills.”
The overall Greek Week winners and individual winners within the Chapter of Excellence were announced at the Fraternity and Sorority Life Awards Ceremony Sunday.
Nichole Henderson can be contacted at [email protected].