In the upcoming week, the chapters of Lawrence’s Greek Life will come together and host events open to all of campus. This annual spring “Greek Week” will run from May 6 to 12 and is sponsored by the Lawrence chapters of Beta Theta Pi, Phi Kappa Tau, Delta Tau Delta, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Delta Gamma, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Kappa Alpha Theta.
To kick off Greek Week, there will be a lip-syncing competition on Monday, May 6 at 8 p.m. in the Wriston Amphitheatre. The remainder of the week’s events will be hosted by the individual chapters as follows:
Kappa will have the Buffalo Wild Wings eating contest, “Too Hot to Handle,” on Tuesday, May 7 on the Quad from 5 to 7 p.m.
On Wednesday, May 8, Sig Ep will host a basketball tournament, “Ballin’ on Boldt,” at 4:30 p.m. and DG will have the water sports competition Anchor Splash in the Wellness Center at 8 p.m.
At 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, Theta will host “Kicks for CASA” (Court Appointed Special Advocates), a kickball tournament that will be held on the Quad.
On Friday, May 10, Phi Tau will be tabling from noon to 7 p.m. on Boldt Way for donations to KidsGive.
On Saturday, May 11, Beta will host the first annual water gun fight at 2 p.m. on the Quad. Lastly, on Sunday, May 12, Delt will have Quad Ball at noon.
Although students involved with Greek Life will be hosting the events, they are open to all students. Junior Panhellenic Council President and Kappa member Maggie Brickner said, “They’re fun events that everyone can enjoy, and they’re going to a good cause.” All of the profits raised from participants will go toward each chapter’s philanthropic cause.
Greek Life Advisor and Sage RHD Rose Wasielewski added, “If [participants] aren’t able to do a lot of volunteering, this is a way to do something really great and charitable and have fun at the same time.” Wasielewski also hopes that Greek Week will “get the word out about what Greek Life is and show other students who have no idea what Greek Life is or maybe have a negative view, that there’s a lot of positive things about being involved with Greek Life.”
Sophomore Spencer Swick, president of the Interfraternity Council and a member of Delt, agreed with Wasielewski, saying, “We’re a lot different from what the stereotypical fraternity system is…we’re planning events to showcase that to the rest of campus.”
Swick talked about how, contrary to the negative idea that fraternities endorse hazing and “shenanigans,” Lawrence’s chapters emphasize philanthropy and academics. Also, each chapter acts as a support system for its members. Swick said his hope for Greek Week is that “it opens everybody’s eyes to Greek Life here,” and added, “It’s something I believe has really helped me grow as a person.”