The initiative taken by Greek student leaders to unify the students on campus not only with one another, but also with the Greencastle community, has resulted in the newest addition to Greek life - Greek Service week.
Vice President of Risk Management Kathryn Drew, a junior, thinks that implementing an opportunity to give back is an important addition to Greek Week.
"Service week is a great way to bring Greeks together for a common cause," Drew said.
With the collaboration of the National Panhellenic Council, Multicultural Greek Council, Panhellenic Association, Psi Lambda Xi and Interfraternity Council, a list of activities have been planned that create volunteering opportunities for those involved in Greek life. Among these opportunities are arts and crafts with residents at the Senior Center and Autumn Glen, setting up and cleaning up at the Be Great Today BBQ, filling out domestic violence packets for Family Support Services and painting doors at the Gobin Methodist Memorial Church.
Transportation to places not within walking distance has been covered with the new service on campus called "Community Rides," which Director of Service and Philanthropy Olivia Carmel likens to a taxi service for students doing community service.
Carmel explained how adding the dimension of service onto Greek Week is important for creating a relationship between our campus and the local community.
"I believe many organizations on campus related to philanthropy export their services, but I wanted to bring it back into the local setting and in doing so, help foster a stronger overall community, bringing together Greencastle and DePauw University," Carmel said in an email interview.
To promote Greek Service Week, IFC Vice President of Operations Ben Cox has shared a description of the week and sent a sign-up form to all the chapters on campus. Carmel has posted information endorsing Greek Service Week on social networking sites and delegates from each council involved in its creation have communicated the opportunities to their chapters.
According to Cox, the week is not only important in connecting with the community, but it's also a valuable opportunity for members of different Greek organizations to connect with each other and learn from one another.
"We may have varying letters and traditions, but at our core we share the most important aspect of Greek life: a commitment to values," Cox said in an email interview. "Through this commitment, it is our responsibility to improve ourselves and the world around us."
Both Carmel and Cox hope to implement a Greek Service Week each semester.
"Service shouldn't be a one-and-done thing. It should be a commitment," Cox said. "It is my hope that...the Greek Service Week [can] go from simply a new idea to a deep-rooted tradition."