Greeks boost community
service, events in 2005

UM’s fraternities and sororities have organized a slew of events this semester to reach out to the Missoula and campus communities.

For the first time ever, UM’s Greek community launched the All-Campus Challenge.

The challenge — which began Oct. 24 and ended Nov. 16 — was set forth by the Greek community to all student organizations through the Associated Students of UM. The event raised more than $5,000 in food, clothing, hygiene products and cash donations. The students donated 324 pounds of food to the Missoula Food Bank.

Alpha Phi sorority made the largest donation, followed by the Christian Campus Coalition, UM Wildlife Society and the UM Advocates.

“We just wanted to create an event using as many people on campus as possible. We wanted to create a coalition between the University and Greek community and work together as a team,” said Ben Vande Ven, creator of the All-Campus Challenge, president of the Interfraternity Council and member of Sigma Nu.

Cash donations were given to the American Red Cross, food donations to the Missoula Food Bank and clothing as well as hygiene products to the Poverello Center.

“Events like these show that Greek life is compatible with other student communities,” said Emily Yaksitch, UM’s Greek life adviser. “It exemplifies the Greek value in community service.”

Also in November, Greek members participated in the “All-Greek Neighborhood Leaf Raking Event.” The groups raked nearly eight blocks, and the yards of nearly 60 homes in the University area.

Another Greek co-sponsored event, Take Back the Night, strove to connect campus and community. The Oct. 21 event, which also was sponsored by UM’s Student Assault Resource Center, worked to create awareness in the Missoula community about domestic violence. Greek members, including men from all fraternities, participated in the event by handing out white ribbons that said, “Men against domestic violence.” Seth Martens, a member of Phi Gamma Delta – also known as FIJI – was the first man ever to speak at the event.

Also at the end of October, UM’s Delta Gamma chapter participated in Service for Sight, a three-day fund-raising event to help the visually impaired. This year, the sorority raised more than $1,600 after paying for their costs. The group hosted a swimming competition called Anchor Splash to raise money, as well as collected donations in the University Center.

“It’s been really successful the past few years,” said Amy Pagano, president of Delta Gamma. “This year we wanted to make even more of an impact.”

Every Delta Gamma chapter in the nation is involved in the fund-raiser. Half of the money collected will go to the national campaign to raise money for the visually impaired and the other half was donated to the Montana School for the Deaf and the Blind in Great Falls.

Next semester Greeks will continue their community service efforts by organizing a student-run leadership conference and holding Greek Week, a weeklong set of activities to recruit new Greek members and share the values of the Greek system with the community. They plan to organize more service events for that week, Yaksitch said. Currently each of UM’s four sororities are “adopting” children for the holidays.

“Community service is important because it’s one of the four founding values (of the Greek system.) It lets the community know that members give back not only for personal development but for group development as well,” Yaksitch said.

In all, more than 300 students belong to UM’s four sororities and six fraternities.
“I think one of our major focuses has been involving the community. Community service is on-going. It makes Greeks very aware of their surroundings,” Yaksitch said. “I hope that those activities are driving that point home.”

– By Brianne Burrowes