The words “Greek Week” much like “sorority recruitment” are words that either inspire dreaded anticipation or an obsessive kind of enthusiasm. To put it simply, you either love it or you hate it. For many fraternity and sorority members, we have learned to spend the few days before preparing for the complete whirlwind of a week and have grown to expect cutthroat competition, chaos, and confusion. In reality, the week is not bad and it can be fun to catch up with other members of the community, but recently Greek Week has become somewhat of a forced tradition on our campus. That’s why there has been initiative to change things for the better. 2016 is the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s last Greek Week (at least for the time being). Why? Because Greek Week is a thing of the past.
Greek Week is meant to be a celebration of our community and all that it means to be Greek. It is a week meant to spark unity amongst all Greek organizations and councils. Greek Week is supposed to celebrate the values of our organization and reflect our goals as a community. But does it really?
One thing that I truly do appreciate about Greek Week is that it does provide chapters and individuals with the opportunity to meet and work with others. There are four Greek councils on our campus and eighteen recognized Greek organizations, but I could honestly only name off half of those chapters. It’s true that opportunities for education, collaboration, and community unity are needed, but just one week of loose teamwork is not the sustainable solution. Greek unity is something that should not just be celebrated for one week of the year. What could our Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) community look like if the main goals of Greek Week—unity, support, close bonds and friendships—were acknowledged and fought for year-round?
Some might argue that Greek Week is a proud tradition and that it is an injustice to replace or improve what has been in place for years. To be honest, though, there have been significant changes in our FSL system over the past years and the events that we host as a community should reflect that. The chapters that existed even five years ago would be unrecognizable to the same chapters that stand in their place today. We are a community that is constantly growing, changing, and adapting. It’s one of the truly beautiful things about Greek life in that an individual can shape and mold a chapter as much as a chapter can develop an individual’s experience.
Greek Week as it has existed is not a proper reflection of the Greek community. We are more than just silly yard games or skits. We are more than just those “obnoxious” students who take over the Pep Bowl or the Student Center Plaza for a week. Our organizations stand for something and, believe me, it’s more than just sidewalk chalk or Family Feud or outdoor team games. Isn’t it time that Greek Week reflected what it really means to be a fraternity man or a sorority woman? We are top scholars. Empowered leaders. Student volunteers. We are the thinkers, the doers, the builders, and the shapers of campus. That’s why Greek Week, as it exists now, is a thing of the past.
I could not be prouder of the leadership in our FSL system for recognizing that change is needed. 2016 marks the final year of Greek Week as it has been. We are preparing to move towards a system that better reflects our values and illustrates what fraternity and sorority is truly about. The FSL community is proud to be a part of the team that is bringing Dance Marathon for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to Baxter Arena next year in 2017. Here’s to hoping this brings a new tradition that helps children in Omaha to have a brighter future. Here’s to challenging the norm in the name of progress and working with a cause that’s so near and dear to many of our hearts.
