Greek Week Promotes Campus “Grunity”

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Photo courtesy of Suzie Farner

Members of Pace’s Greek community gathered for a photo opportunity at this year’s Greek Olympics

Taylor Longenberger, News Editor

Greek Week, a seven day opportunity that serves as a platform for members of Pace’s Greek community to further unite, was held last week from Mon. April 21 to Sun. April 27.

Different events for each day of the week brought all Greek chapter organizations together for a unified celebration.

“Greek Week has create a tradition for Greeks and the entire campus to enjoy a week full of campus activities,” Assistant Director of Greek Life Robert Thomas Jones said. “With all four councils coming together and involving achievements of the entire Greek community, Greek Week promotes their way of life.”

With all of the Greek organizations joining together, there is a great sense of pride for their letters as well as for Pace.

“It’s a great opportunity for Greeks to be able to express ‘Grunity’,’ or Greek Unity,” Jones said. “Teams with different chapters all working together as one create a sense of grunity that may not always be seen. You have to remember that we are stronger as one than as several different parts.”

Greek Week chairs Denika Desert and Alison Wu created the events that would promote a greater attendance and overall positive experience for those participating.

Teams of Chapters were made in order to bring all of the four governing councils, Panhellenic (UPC), Interfraternity (IFC), National Pan-hellenic (NPHC), and North American Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO), together. Each team consisted of chapters belonging to different councils. The teams participated in each of the events of the week together and represented a country as the theme for the week was “Greeks Go Global.”

A social media challenge was also incorporated that spanned throughout the entire week. If a picture was taken that had people from multiple chapters within it and was placed on a social media outlet accompanied by the hashtags “#Grunity” or “#GreeksGoGlobal” the team received points toward the winning goal.

Events began on Monday with the Greek Week kick-off in Butcher Suite where rules for the week were discussed. The Greek chapters came out on Tuesday to promote Pace Athletic with a baseball barbecue prior to the game and later took an all Greek photo. Organizations were awarded based on scholarship on Wednesday at the Plynteria Academic Luncheon, followed by My Big Fat Greek Dinner in Butcher Suite where seniors were acknowledged for their achievements. On Thursday, Tri Crown rang out in the Briarcliff Cafeteria with a competition of academics, entertainment, and unity.

“This year, Tri-Crown is the event that could bring non-Greeks out and experience the community of grunity,” Jones said.

A seven minute presentation on each team’s respective country represented the academic portion of the competition, a rewrite of a song in order to make it fit with Greek Life at Pace represented the entertainment portion, and a creation of a dance or stroll represented the unity portion.

Many of the students participating in the Tri-Crown event were excited to support their teams.

“I like that everyone is here and gets together,” sophomore marketing major and member of Phi Sigma Sigma Angelina Galbo said. “We have mixers and parties with other orgs, but never something as a while. It is nice to have events with everyone here.”

Many of the Greek Chapters participated in Relay for Life on Friday and the Spring Carnival on Saturday.

The Greek Olympics, a series of field events held on Miller Lawn on Sunday, wrapped up the week.

“I think it’s a great way for Greeks to unite,” Chairperson of Greek Week Wu said. “We aren’t always unified, but Greek Week really brings us all together.”

Although Greek Life only constitutes 13 percent of the Pace Pleasantville campus, the Greek presence does not go unnoticed.

“These are the same students that you live within the residence halls and sit with in classes,. They may be intimidating as a whole, but I wish that non-Greeks would be participating as well,” Jones said. “With recruitment always being a priority, it’s important for non-Greeks to feel welcome to come out to the week’s events. Greek Week should always have Greeks and non-Greeks coming together.”