If you happened to walk past the campus lawn around 1 p.m. last Sunday, you may have noticed a crowd of people gathered on the grass, taking part in events such as piggy back races, sack races and balloon tossing. A local elementary school field day perhaps?
Hardly. It was the Greek Games -- an afternoon of various games and competitions to kick off this year's Greek Week.
Greek Week, which is a "...celebration of Greek social life" according to Inter-fraternity Council President and senior Jordan Yelinek, started on Sunday, September 9 and will extend through Saturday, September 15.
Various events were held for each day of the week, starting with the Greek Games on Sunday.
Members of each fraternity and sorority on campus gathered together for an afternoon of good-natured competition and fun.
According to Alpha Omicron Pi President Kristen Bozzella, "Competition is always a good way to bring everyone together for the good of the whole."
Junior Dean Zang, member of Kappa Alpha Order, added, "Despite all the friendly cheating, it was a great time."
In addition to such events as three-legged races and a jell-o eating contest, each fraternity and sorority designed a banner to be judged.
Extremely popular among each Greek organization, Greek Games is regarded as a wonderful opportunity for all fraternity and sorority members to get together and have some laidback fun. Even though there was a spirit of competition in the air, the true purpose of the Greek Games was to get closer with other Greek members in each organization.
"As for KA, we have a lot of fun at the Greek Games. We truly go out there to just have fun; if we win, that is a bonus," remarked Kappa Alpha President and senior Teris Pantazes.
Not only did a number of fraternity and sorority members come together on the field during the Greek Games, but many also worked together to plan all of the activities for Greek Week.
The Panhellenic Council, a panel of representatives from each of the three sororities, did most of the planning for the week, joined by members of the Inter-fraternity Council.
President of the Panhellic Council Kristen McAuliffe felt that, "Greek Week is simply a great chance to get all the Greeks together."
Aside from Sunday's Greek Games, many other events took place throughout the week.
Monday was "Pin Day," where all Greek members dressed up and wore their pins. Tuesday was "Letters Day," in which each member wore his or her organization's letters.
On Wednesday, each fraternity and sorority member participated in the Faculty Wine and Cheese event at 4:30 p.m. in the Hynson Lounge, which was a way to get professors involved in Greek life here at WC.
Voting for this year's Greek God and Goddess also took place at the Wine and Cheese event.
Thursday proved itself to be another day of competition, consisting of tug-of-war and a volleyball match at the Cain Gym at 7 p.m.
"I mean, when was the last time you had it out with a good game of tug of war? It is a really great way to reconfirm the sisterhood bond that we share while strengthening Greek relationships outside of our own sorority," remarked junior and Zeta Tau Alpha President Amanda Baldwin.
Today a Greek Picnic is being held on the campus lawn from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Finally, tomorrow a Greek Bash will be held, orange fence style, at the quad from 9 pm to 12 pm.
So, while Greek Week is an excellent way for fraternity and sorority members to get out and enjoy a little competition, it's also a great way to become more familiar with other WC Greek members and members of each organization.
"Greek Week is a good time to unite all the Greeks on campus, especially within each individual sorority and fraternity," according to Bozzella.
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