'Meet the Greeks' on the Walk kicks off Greek Week

The sun was shining, birds were singing, and fraternity and sorority members were basking in the afternoon sun behind tables that lined Locust Walk, where yesterday students could "Meet the Greeks." The event was the kickoff of Greek Week, when freshmen and sophomores who are considering rushing get their first exposure to the campus' various fraternities and sororities. Organizers have been planning the week -- some of whose events are funded by the undergraduate student government -- since February. Other events this week include an upperclass gathering tonight at Dave & Buster's, a massive bar and entertainment center near Penn's Landing, an all-Greek mixer tomorrow on Moravian Court and a screening of Good Will Hunting Friday on College Green. Saturday will be a community service day, including a carnival and barbecue in Superblock. "It's fun to see the stress in [the freshmen's] eyes," said Sigma Chi brother Andrew Kandel, a College sophomore who was cutting class to sit by his fraternity's table on the Walk. Greek Week Committee Co-chairperson Liz Bernard, a College senior, explained that the week has a larger number of events this year because organizers received more money. The committee received $10,000 from the Undergraduate Assembly, part of the $30,000 the UA set aside for the InterFraternity Council last spring to help fund non-alcoholic programming. The Greek Week events are open to the entire campus and Bernard hopes that students will come check them out -- unlike last year, when "it was the middle of Greek Week and no one noticed" it was happening, the Sigma Delta Tau sister said. "Everyone is so excited. It's something for the entire campus to get involved in," said Bernard, who is also the Panhellenic Council's executive vice president. Scott Reikofski, director of Penn's Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, said that planning the events has been hard in recent years for two reasons: a lack of funding and uncertainty about what kinds of events students would attend. "They've been doing trial-and-error to find out what people want," Reikofski said. IFC President Josh Belinfante, a College senior, explained that the $10,000 pays for the Friday and Saturday events. The UA cannot pay for the Dave and Buster's event because it will include alcohol, and the IFC, Panhel and the Bicultural InterGreek Council are funding the all-Greek mixer. Despite the overall changes to Greek Week, this year's "Meet the Greeks" event was almost entirely identical to that of previous years', leading some Greeks to question whether it is an effective way to meet prospective pledges. "This doesn't generate much support. It isn't very well organized," said Kappa Sigma brother Paulo Eapen, a College junior. Added Kandel of Sigma Chi: "I meet kids at the parties, but not this." Alpha Chi Rho and Pi Lambda Phi were both offering prizes to passerbyes. Alpha Chi Rho let students sign up to win a date with Belinfante, while Pi Lam gave out hand-painted hub caps. Nearly all of the Greek organizations were giving away free food and drinks. Nearly 100 women had registered for spring Panhel rush by the end of the day, according to Panhel President Janelle Brodsky, a College and Engineering senior. Men could sign a contact list at the individual fraternity tables, but they do not need to register until rush begins in the spring.