by Martha I. Fernandez
Staff Writer
Joining together for a common goal, ULV greeks have combined their forces to serve the community with the organizations’ first Charity Greek Week.
The idea of a Charity Greek Week originated after information from a local charity was mailed to Melissa Jaunal, coordinator of student programs who in turn handed the information to Jason Sigala, president of the Inter-Fraternity Sorority Council.
“I just had a weird vision. I heard a lot from people saying ‘Why do we have two greek weeks?’ Especially with this semester being the first semester with deferred rush,” said Sigala. “The pledge numbers weren’t going to be as high. It was going to be an active [greeks] event.”
In the past, both greek weeks dealt with competition between greek organizations in the form of tug-of-wars, obstacle courses, and lip sync contests.
“We pour all this concentration and time into getting costumes for a lip sync. Why not use all that time and energy to donate it for people who need it, instead of making the week self-serving, why not make it self-giving,” said Sigala.
The object of the Charity Greek Week was to give community service, inform others about greeks and promote unity among the greek organizations on campus.
“I took the Charity Greek Week as an event to strengthen the Greek system, that way we have everyone working together and a way to bring faculty into it,” said Sigala.
A pair, which consists of a fraternity or sorority, is put in charge for each event. Charity Greek Week ended today with a Faculty Appreciation luncheon.
This event was coordinated by Sigala of Delta Sigma Phi and Melissa Collett of Iota Delta in conjunction with Aramark dining services.
Sigala said Norm Venables of Aramark services was very helpful in cutting the costs of the luncheon. For every student with a lunch card, the faculty member will eat free. ASF gave $500 to help cover the costs of meals for greek commuters and their guests.
A video presentation and speech will be part of the luncheon to inform those who attend about ULV’s greeks, as well as, to sum up the results of the whole week.
“The purpose of the luncheon is for each member to invite a faculty or staff member of their choice. It’s a chance to invite them and let them know what we’re about and about the community service we’ve done all through the week,” said Sigala.
The Charity Greek Week began with Penny Wars which was organized by Cory Cruz of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Julie Canny of Sigma Kappa. Jugs were placed at the Student Center and at the Miller Hall foyer. Competitions were held among the greeks, as well as, academic department against department. The object of the Penny Wars is to get the greatest amount of pennies. Any other coins or dollar bills count as a deduction to the total amount.
The funds raised from the Penny Wars will be made out into a check that will be presented to Elodie Silva at today’s luncheon. Silva is an employee at the Claremont colleges who founded the Shoes that Fit Foundation.
The Shoes that Fit program also was launched during this week with the aid of Cruz and Roynon Elementary School. This program has become a philanthropic program of the greeks on campus. Cal Poly Pomona and the Claremont colleges has already implemented this program on their campuses.
The purpose of the Shoes that Fit Foundation is to help clothe children living in financially challenged families.
Sigala said the need of a child is determined by a teacher who in turn sends a permission slip home to make sure that the family approves of the Foundation giving the child clothes. Information that includes the size and the articles of clothing needed is then given to ULV.
Cards are made that have these details and are posted at the Student Center. Items purchased must be new and can be turned into the Student Center. The first shipment of clothes and shoes is expected to take place the week of Thanksgiving.
“We get to deliver them [the clothes] to the students personally once or twice a month. The child gets pulled out of class and we deliver it,” said Sigala.
This charity will be continued throughout the year with a consistent flow of cards being posted with the hopes of students and faculty continuing their efforts to help those in need.
On Wednesday, a community service project at Hillcrest Homes took place. Under the leadership of Vince Wetzel of Phi Delta Theta and Wendy Higgins from Phi Theta Chi, the greeks decorated the area for the Holiday season.
“We wanted to do two aspects of community service. I wanted to make sure we did a community service project hands on. It’s easy to write a check and raise money, but you really don’t get the feel for the reason why we’re doing this,” said Sigala.
An all school clothes for the needy drive took place on Thursday. Clothes gathered were taken to a local shelter.
Martha I. Fernandez
