This week, members of the Penn State greek community will be living the theme "No matter the letters, we're all greek together" in celebration of Greek Week 2009.
Greek Week is a week "full of healthy competition, community service and programming events" meant to bring all four greek councils together and promote unity, said Kimberly Aubrey, Greek Week overall chairwoman. The four greek councils are the Interfraternity Council (IFC), Multicultural Greek Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Panhellenic Council.
"It's a week to celebrate being greek, as well as meeting more people of the greek community," Aubrey (senior-secondary education) said.
"It's a week where all four of us can come together."
Although some small events were held last week, the majority of the Greek Week programming is being held this week, including a Day of Service, a Greek Week Pageant, the Chariot Races and an AIDS Walk.
The Day of Service will include a canned food drive and a "Greek Sweep." The "Greek Sweep" is basically a cleanup of downtown, Aubrey said.
The Greek Week Pageant is a competition between five men and five women to win the title of Mr. and Miss Greek Week. They will compete in three categories: toga, talent and question-and-answer, Aubrey said.
The Chariot Races are "a traditional Greek Week event ... at the heart of being greek," Aubrey said. Early in the week, chapter members will build two-person chariots. The chariots will later be raced down Fairmount Avenue, she said. The week will conclude with the AIDS Walk and an awards ceremony.
Austin Miller, Greek Week public relations overall, said although non-greeks cannot participate in the competitions, they are encouraged to come and watch the different events.
Miller (junior-broadcast journalism) said Greek Week is a good opportunity to unite everyone at Penn State and help get rid of some of the negative stereotypes some people have of greeks, showing them "greeks are a leader on this campus."
IFC President Luke Pierce said his favorite part of Greek Week is the competitive spirit. He added the week is a "great opportunity to bring the four councils together," but thinks there should be an all-year effort to unite the councils.
