Spring Break
University fraternities, sororities kick off 68th annual 'Greek Week' with chariot race
Robert Preliasco
Issue date: 4/15/08 Section: News
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The 1,400 members of the University of Rhode Island Greek community are coming together this week for the 68th annual Greek Week, which began with a chariot race Sunday and will conclude on Friday.
During Greek Week, the university's fraternities and sororities are paired together for a series of competitive team and single events, as well as a canned food drive.
"Greek Week is a time when there's a great deal of programs on campus and events for students to go to," said Tom Sibbald, co-coordinator of Greek Week and director of philanthropy and programming for the Inter-Fraternity Council. The IFC oversees URI's 11 fraternities.
"It's the biggest week for Greeks," said Tashalyn Cosimo, president of the Panhellenic Council, which oversees URI's sororities.
The groups compete in mostly traditional events, but at least one original idea is added each year. The Lip Sync dance competition, scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. in Keaney Gym, is a time-honored tradition and one of the week's most popular events, whereas tonight's tribute to Nickelodeon sports shows, "Double GUTS of the Hidden Temple," is new. It is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Keaney Gym tonight.
"We try to keep it fun for people to watch and participate," Cosimo said.
All URI students, including non-greeks, can attend the events for $5 or less.
Cosimo said that the funds raised during Greek Week are donated within the university as opposed to those raised during Philanthropy Week, which are donated to local charities outside of the school.
The proceeds for Greek Week will go to the URI Student Senate and Athletics Department, which help put on the events, and to the Leadership Education and Development fund, which furthers the areas of scholarship and leadership within Greek organizations, according to the URI Web site.
Greek Week is based on tradition, but this year's events are part of a change that began last year: students who are not part of the Greek system are welcome to attend the events, but they cannot participate.
Cosimo said that the events were first opened up last year.
"People think the Greek system's very closed," she said. "But we're just a branch of the URI community and we want the whole community to be involved in what we do."
The individual Greek chapters and pairings receive points for how well they do in each event, but nothing is on the line except for bragging rights.
The real point of Greek Week, Cosimo said, "is getting all the chapters to work together for one cause." She said this is difficult because of the sheer size of the community.
Sibbald added, "It's like 'Whose Line is it Anyway,' the points don't matter."
A full Greek Week schedule can be found on the University of Rhode Island Web site at http://www.uri.edu/student_affairs/greek/events.html
