Great Pro-Greek article in college paper!

[adduncan]

From the Daily Free Press at Boston University 9/9/2003

Greeks serve community

By Phoebe Sexton

Media Credit: Phoebe Sexton
Peter Ross (left), a College of General Studies sophomore, and Charles Busler, a College of Arts and Sciences sophomore, help clean a playground Saturday.


Members of Boston University’s five fraternities and eight sororities gathered early Saturday morning to begin the Day of Service, the Inter Fraternity Sorority Council’s second annual community service event.

More than 100 students gathered at the School of Law Auditorium and then went to the Jackson Mann Community Center in Allston.

“It’s completely voluntary,” said Greg Weisman, the council’s vice president of philanthropy. “It’s a great way to counteract the stereotype, so we can show we’re not just here for our own good. That’s not what we’re all about.”

Sarah Rubenstein, IFSC president of philanthropy, said they selected the community center and three other nearby locations — the Horace Mann School for the Deaf, Ringer Park and Jackson Mann Elementary School — because there was no limit to the number of volunteers they could supply.

“We chose this venue because it could support all the manpower we have to offer, unlike a project with Habitat for Humanity, which only needs about 30 to 40 people,” Rubinstein said. “Also, we had kind of a small budget and clean-up like this doesn’t require an expensive investment. We were fortunate enough for Pepsi to donate all the beverages for lunch. T Anthony’s gave us a discount. That way we were able to put more of our money toward helping the center.”

Volunteers were then given trash bags, rakes, shovels and latex gloves and put to work cleaning up around the four locations. Organizers said safety was a major concern, so those wearing flip-flops were restricted to certain areas.

Some, undaunted by the dangers, went directly to the worst areas, while others trekked through the park as they picked up the trash nearest them.

Two members of Sigma Alpha Epsilon — College of General Studies sophomore Peter Ross and College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Charles Busler — combed glass out of the sand at Ringer Park’s playground. The fraternity was kicked off campus 13 years ago and is just now rebuilding, reforming and trying to regain its place in the BU Greek system, they said.

“We may not be endorsed [by IFSC] yet, but we’re here anyway because it’s a good cause, and we want to show our presence in the BU community,” Ross said.

Residents of the area noted the hard work of the volunteers and many stopped their walks and jogs to talk to the volunteers.

Casey Laurie, a representative of Allston’s Street Crime Watch, was the most enthusiastic supporter, going so far as to give IFSC officers a brief preliminary tour to point out important and hazardous areas.

“It’s great to see so many kids,” Laurie said. “Students who come here have been more of a nuisance, but this goes far in fostering goodwill between the college and the community — I’m so thrilled.”
(note added by adduncan: notice it's the Greeks making a positive impression on the community, and not anyone else. 180-degrees opposite the stereotype!)

Cots and chairs were taken to a pick-up area and bags filled quickly with clothes, bottles and more bizarre items — from an electric guitar to a clothing iron to a hockey helmet.

Organizers said the Day of Service was an opportunity to see a new part of Boston, to get involved in the Greek system and to interact with some of BU’s neighbors.

Arielle Kallus, a College of Communication junior, said she was more than willing to wake up before 9 a.m. for her community.

“It’s a good cause,” she said. “Even though it’s hard to get up early, you definitely end the day feeling fulfilled.”

Adrienne