UGA plans non-competitive Greek Week

[hoosier]

U. GA Greeks will no longer compete during Week

By Abigail Smith
Published , April 07, 2003, 12:00:01 PM EDT

A week once dedicated to Greeks competing against each other is now a week for Greeks to work for a greater cause.

"We've done away with the competition aspect," said Phillip Gatins, InterGreek Council vice president for public relations. "There are no teams anymore."

For the first time the InterGreek Council is organizing Greek Week, which begins today.

The council was founded last year to promote diversity and interaction between all Greek organizations.

In the past, Greek Week was organized by an executive council of 18 Greeks. Sororities and fraternities were paired to participate in a week of competitions. Points were awarded, and the team with the most points at the end of the week won.

This year, there are no teams, no points and no prizes. But there will be fun, Gatins said.

"We want to get the whole community out and have fun being Greek," he said.

Organizing Greek Week is a wonderful opportunity for the InterGreek Council to promote their agenda, said Sarah Luppen, the council's vice president of Greek Week.

"Our whole thing is to promote interaction," she said.

The push for interaction -- the driving force behind the InterGreek Council -- is what is really going to bring Greek Week together, said Claudia Shamp, associate dean for Greek Life.

"The people in charge of Greek Week have a vested interest in doing things that bring all Greeks together," she said. "That is what they are about and that is what they are doing."

While Greek Week previously mainly consisted of many different smaller events going on all at once, this year they have been combined into "more quality events and less sheer quantity," Shamp said.

Greek Week will kick off today with a cook-out at Legion Field from 6 to 8 p.m. Fraternity presidents will man the grills, and one will be awarded the title of "Best Apron."

Billy Bennett, place kicker for the University football team, will perform with his band, Whole Lotta Angus.

The cook-out also is open to students not in a Greek organization, Gatins said.

"It's a great opportunity for non-Greeks to come see what we are all about," he said.

Tuesday's event, "Kick for Kids, Chick for You," will take place in the Tate Plaza. For $1, people can kick a soccer ball into a goal defended by one of the Greek leaders. They will receive a coupon to Chick-Fil-A and a can of Rush, a new energy drink.

Greek Night at the baseball game begins Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Foley Field. Greek Man and Woman of the Year will be crowned and then the two will throw out the first pitch, An all-Greek chorus also will sing the National Anthem.

Thursday, the Greek Week celebrations will wrap up with an all-Greek toga social at Last Call.

All the proceeds from the week's events will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Athens, Gatins said.

"Greek Week is the bringing together of all Greek organizations to come together and celebrate being Greek," Shamp said.

Members of the Greek organizations said they are looking forward to the new style as well.

"I'm excited," said John Gilbert, a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity.