Annual Greek Week to kick off Monday

Will the Greek system be Dead? The future is still up for debate, but at least next Friday, campus Greeks will be. The fraternity and sorority systems are sponsoring a Greatful Dead cover band -- Smokestack Lightning -- in an open concert on Superblock as one event in a week of activities that make up this year's Greek Week. Beginning Monday, fraternity and sorority members will be out in full force to celebrate themselves and promote the Greek system to the entire University and surrounding community. "The whole spirit of Greek Week is that it is the one time during the year when the BIG-C, IFC, and Panhel formally get together and celebrate their membership in the Greek system," said Interfraterity Council Greek Week representative Bruce Forman. "It highlights the benefits and strengths of the system as a whole," Forman added. To that end, Gloria Chisolm, vice chair of the University Board of Trustees, is scheduled to speak about these benefits on College Green Monday. "We wanted someone who has experience in the University but also has experience with the Greek system," said Black InterGreek Council president Marisa Sifontes. "She will speak about the responsibility of the University to the Greek system, and the responsibility of the Greek system to the University." The highlight of the week for many Greeks is the Olympics to be held next Saturday on Superblock. Fraternities and sororities will compete in events ranging from volleyball to a pie eating contest. "We met a lot of Greeks through Greek week last year," said BIG-C Greek Week representative Karen Wright. "And we got a lot of links through participating in the Olympics." In the week before the Olympics, Greeks will hold one event each day beginning with Monday's speaker. The events are designed to reintroduce the Greeks to the surrounding community. "Greek Week is intended to put the University community and the West Philadelphia community as a whole on notice that we are again ready to renew our standing as the pre-eminent philanthropic and social force on campus," Forman said. On Tuesday, 200 children from the University New School will come to College Green where Greek members will read and play games with the children. Fraternity and sorority members have received sponsors for the event with the funds going to buy books for the school. Other events include a faculty tea gathering, "Meet the Greeks" on Locust walk, and the concert on Friday.

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