Greek Awards Banquet lauds top Greek members, houses

Leaders of the Greek system gathered Wednesday night at the annual Greek Awards Banquet to herald the future of Greek life and honor the outstanding contributions of this year's most successful and active members. The presentation of an award to a fraternity or sorority symbolized the Greek world's recognition of that chapter's efforts in a particular area as an example for the whole of the Greek system, according to 1996 InterFraternity Council President Josh Gottheimer. Gottheimer, a College senior and Alpha Epsilon Pi brother, pointed to the excellence of Phi Sigma Kappa's alumni events before conferring the award for the most outstanding Alumni Relations to the chapter's president, Engineering sophomore Ryan Orr. "We had an alumni golf tournament, Founder's Day Celebration and Homecoming Brunch -- the award makes us proud because we look upon the alumni as just an integral part of the house now as they were students," Orr said. Gottheimer also emphasized the success of the 21st Century Report for an Ivy League Greek System, a self-study that he said has made the University's Greek system the nation's forerunner. Also recognizing the efforts of the 21st Century Report, Provost Stanley Chodorow praised Greek leaders' recent efforts to more fully integrate fraternities and sororities into University life. "In past years they would go about their own business but now we can more directly relate to them," Chodorow said. "We would like the Greek system to be an integral part of the residential program we are developing." Symbolic of the newly energized relationship between the University and the Greeks, Gottheimer presented Chodorow with the first-ever 21st Century Award for his friendship to the Greek system and efforts to integrate Greeks into campus life. The brothers of Delta Upsilon won Best Fraternity and Pi Beta Phi was named Outstanding Sorority. And the brothers of Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc., of the BiCultural InterGreek Council, won the award for Outstanding Educational and Cultural Activities for organizing more than 50 University students in a march in Washington, D.C. The presentation of the Most Improved IFC Fraternity to Alpha Tau Omega -- a traditionally athletic fraternity which strove over the past year to welcome a greater range of students -- indicated the importance Greek leaders placed on openness. "In the past we had isolated ourselves and were self-contained but this past year we were more open to involvement with the rest of the school," ATO president and Engineering sophomore Chris Lindsey said. Former Panhellenic Council President and College senior Jessica Schreck -- expressing her continued desire for community involvement -- honored the women of Delta Delta Delta with the the Most Outstanding Community Service and Philanthropy Award. "The Greek Awards is a great opportunity for sororities to learn from each other and find out what other sororities are doing and planning, and share tips for how to do things," Wharton senior and former Tri Delt President Gretchen Eschbacher said.