Rose Eney
Co-Commentary Editor
An annual tradition that is full of rivalry, competition, and, well, Jell-o eating descended upon McDaniel last week.
That’s right, Greek Week’s battles were fought well, but only one fraternity and one sorority claimed victories: Alpha Sigma Phi and Alpha Nu Omega.
When asked who would win the games, junior, and member of Alpha Nu Omega sorority, Jessica Gelber predicted her group’s win by saying, “Obviously, Alpha Nu Omega. We are just that amazing.”
Sororities and fraternities have competed in Greek Week for decades and they’ve battled each other in categories such as the tug-o-war, jeopardy, human pyramid challenge, and the skit/song challenge. Gelber says that the variety of activities give every member of each organization a chance to participate.
According to Amanda Rose, Assistant Director of College Activities, the groups are scored by increments of ten; first place in each challenge for fraternities receives 50 points, and first place in each challenge for sororities receives 30 points.
Rose further explained that this is because there are five fraternities and three sororities and they must be awarded points accordingly. She also added that if a group is disqualified or does not compete in an event then they receive zero points.
Aside from shoving Jell-o in their faces or competing in dress-up torture challenges, another huge event is part of Greek Week: penny wars.
Penny wars takes place the week before the actual games are held, and is something that breeds just as much competition as any other contest the groups take part in. The only piece of money that will earn a group positive points is the penny; anything else will detract from their overall total. Though this rivalry exists, this competition is for a good cause.
All of the money gathered in the big blue jugs outside Glar is counted at the end, and whichever fraternity and sorority have the most points have the honor of splitting the money in half (approximately $930 this year) and donating it to their charity of choice. This year, that honor goes to Alpha Sigma Phi and Phi Mu.
When asked about the level of competitiveness and sportsmanship, Rose said that she felt the week is positive overall. She acknowledged that unsportsmanlike qualities can sometimes come out, but fortunately Greek Week has a sportsmanship clause. Groups are given warnings if their behavior becomes over-the-top.
Gelber acknowledged the existence of tension by saying, “Although the games create a great deal of competitiveness between different organizations, they also generate a great deal of pride and team spirit within everyone’s organization.”
Sophomore, and member of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, David Sparby said, “I personally enjoy participating in Greek Games because it gives me the opportunity to have some fun and to find out where our fraternity ranks among the others on campus.” As a first time participant in the games, he also believes that the games also give him a chance to bond further with his fraternity brothers.
Though each member of the groups has something they like about Greek Week, junior member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity Matt Crowe echoes the one overall dislike from this year’s games: “The weather has been gross.”
Nasty weather and some competitiveness aside, the whole point of the games is to bring the groups together in order for them to enjoy themselves and have fun. That point seems to have been accomplished; all have enjoyed themselves and forged further bonds with their brothers and sisters.
Rose sums the week up by saying that the best part is truly “the unity of the groups.”