By Emma Reilly
Editor-in-Chief
To start off the semester, Washington College’s Panhellenic Council and Interfraternity Council teamed up to host an interorganizational event for students.
Members of all five of WC’s Greek Life chapters — which includes the Zeta Tau Alpha, Alpha Omicron Pi, and Alpha Chi Omega sororities and the Kappa Sigma and Phi Delta Theta fraternities — gathered by the Fraternity Quad at 6 p.m. on Sept. 3 for “Meet the Greeks.”
The event was intended to give students interested in learning more about Greek Life the opportunity to casually mingle with current members.
“I know that when I went through recruitment…it was a lot of chaos all around. This is meant to be something more lowkey and chill. It’s just to get to know people,” Vice President of Recruitment for Panhellenic Council and Treasurer of ZTA sister senior Ruby Baxley said.
During the event, attendees relaxed by the bonfire, made s’mores, and played cornhole.
According to Kappa Sigma brother junior Matt Brader, social events like “Meet the Greeks” were missed following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I think we’re finally back into the swing of things after COVID-19. Last year was our little dip in the water but now we’re fully back and ready to just have fun and welcome everyone who wants to come,” Brader said.
The event drew in some curious members of the WC community, including freshmen Heather Moffatt and Sara Sypolt.
According to Moffatt, the communal and service aspects of Greek Life are especially intriguing.
“I was a big athlete in high school, and a big part of that was being on a team,” Moffatt said. “I also looked into the philanthropy…that was a big thing that brought me out and I just want to learn more about that.”
According to Moffatt, knowing a few upperclassmen involved in Greek Life also encouraged her to check out the event.
Sypolt, however, attended simply out of curiosity. “I’m mostly here to tag along but I’m open…if I find something I’m interested in I’ll go with it,” Sypolt said.
According to Baxley, students who are interested in learning more about Greek Life can benefit from asking questions and keeping an open mind.
Members of Greek Life hope to recreate the pivotal experiences they underwent for those on campus who are newly interested in fraternity and sorority life.
“When I was a freshman, I came here knowing nobody and everywhere I’d go there would be people wearing Kappa Sigma letters and those people ended up being super friendly and welcoming and some of the people to get me out of my shell,” Kappa Sigma brother Social Vice President senior Dylan Snow said. “I thought I might as well give the whole fraternity thing a shot.”
According to Snow, WC’s chapters hope to emulate this same sense of belonging for potential new members.
“Greek Life is really all about trying to connect,” AXO sister junior Abby Collins said. “That’s what motivated me to join. It made it easier to find my niche.”
WC’s Greek Life organizations will continue to host events as their formal recruitment periods approach.
Photo courtesy of Erin Moran
Photo Caption: Alpha Omicron Pi member senior Anna Courtney and Zeta Tau Alpha member sophomore Dori Mcmenamin posed in the spirit of Panhellenic relations.