The Greek Games, a high-spirited and friendly event, brought back to campus a vibrant Greek community built on the principles of brotherhood and sisterhood, as well as goodwill and service.
And, in true Olympic Games fashion, the winning team, Alpha Tau Omega, wasn’t determined until completing the last of the 10 events.
The day’s relay race and human pyramid contests required teamwork and athletic skill. Kickball and dodgeball required agility and determination to win. The golf and cornhole events were won with a combination of cleverness and strategic thinking. And good old-fashioned fun was featured in a watermelon eating, music video (to Rihanna’s popular “Umbrella” song) and Minute to Win contests.
There are plenty of smiles for everyone.
“This is a nice break from our studies. Our members just have so much fun being around each other and doing things together,” said Alpha Omicron Pi sorority member Rose Burnham, a senior mechanical engineering major. She contributed points by representing her team in the eating contest and helped form the four-member foundational layer of the chapter’s human pyramid entry.
“We’ve practiced a little for some of the events. The pyramid contest will take three attempts to complete. We may not succeed on our first or second attempts, but everything should be ready for the contest by the third. At least that’s the plan,” said Burnham, laughing while looking ahead to the rest of the day.
Other teams, like the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, didn’t practice before arriving for the competition.
“We’re determining who might be the best fit for each contest or at least wants to give it a try,” said PKA member Jacob Durenberger, a sophomore mechanical engineering student. “Winning isn’t important. We’re here to have fun.”
Alpha Tau Omega, which won the relay race and the eating contest in the overall competition, scored five points more than the second-placed Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity (the Dodgeball Champion). Delta Sigma Phi was third, after consistently scoring points in all of the events. Delta Delta Delta was recognized as the most enthusiastic sorority, while Chi Omega won the sportsmanship award. Lambda Chi Alpha won the Nice Try award.
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Erik Hayes stated the real “winners” are the students who gain valuable leadership skills, make lifelong friendships and work together to improve the campus and community through service projects provided by groups each school year. These events include building bicycles for Bikes for Tikes, organizing philanthropic activities to support Make-A-Wish Foundation’s efforts to prevent juvenile diabetes, campus beautification and helping Trees Inc. to plant trees throughout the city.
“We’re fortunate to have such a vibrant Greek system that compliments everything we strive to achieve in building worthwhile student relationships on campus. They give back so much to the campus and community and are great ambassadors of Rose,” Hayes said.
Nearly one-third of the college’s student body are members of the 11 Greek social organizations (eight fraternities; three sororities), according to the Office of Student Affairs.
Tri-Delta members are “a home away from home” for member Katrina Agustin, a senior mechanical engineering major. “I have found girls that I can call upon at any time to provide a helping hand when things get tough academically or personally. There’s a group that’s always in my corner and I appreciate that.”
Junior sorority sister Kyra Hicks added, “There’s a tight bond within the group. We’re all in this together.”
Fraternities are no different.
“There’s a brotherhood that never ends. You have a place to enjoy life and get away from the stresses of the day or week,” said Delta Sigma Phi member Nikita Egorov, a sophomore electrical engineering student.
New Pi Kappa Alpha member Jonah Clark, a first-year mechanical engineering major, stated, “The fraternity is a nice change of pace from school. This group has allowed me to get out and explore the campus, as well as make new friends. It has helped me enjoy the college experience.”
