By Kimiko L. Martinez
Assistant News Editor
They’ve got a reputation to live up to.
From “Revenge of the Nerds” to “Animal House” and “Legally Blonde,” Hollywood has built an image of Greek life that most people assume is true.
If the word “fraternity” pops up, images of wild parties and ritual hazings automatically come to mind. Think “sorority” and thoughts of bubbly co-eds concerned more with style than studying creep into your cerebrum.
But it’s not all true.
Especially on this campus.
The Christian values set forth in Pepperdine’s mission statement permeate Greek life just as much as any other organization on campus.
Greeks too adhere to the ideal of students being “strengthened for lives, service, and leadership.” And their commitment to philanthropy proves it.
Each Greek organization raises money annually for a designated charity or cause determined by the national organization or the local chapters themselves.
From events like this past weekend’s Gamma Phi Beta Bootcamp to Sigma Chi’s Run/Walk for Hope next month, each Greek organization holds events throughout the year that support their philanthropies ranging from children’s cancer research to aid for the blind.
“Fraternities and sororities get a bad rap just because we’re Greek,” said Sigma Nu President Charles Vernocy.
“People don’t give members a chance to really prove themselves. If they’d just open up their minds and come to some of these events, they’d get to see what we’re doing for others and for our communities,” he continued.
Christy Hunter, president of Pi Beta Phi, agrees that assumptions about Greek life aren’t always true.
“Obviously part of the (appeal of a) sorority is the social aspect,” Hunter said, “but we’re also just a group of girls trying to do good.”
She maintains that importance of philanthropy to Greek organizations is often overlooked by outsiders, but is often a deciding factor to incoming members.
“(Philanthropy is) definitely important,” she said. “I think one of the reasons that people pick a particular sorority is that they like the philanthropy and what the sorority stands for.”
Sigma Phi Epsilon’s vice president of programming, David Chang, agrees.
“Philanthropy is part of what SigEp is all about,” he said. “We love to give back to the community that has already given us so much. Philanthropy also gives us a chance as a brotherhood to unite under the banner of service.”
While most national chapters of sororities and fraternities require philanthropy and even designate a charity for all their chapters, there’s plenty of opportunity for individual involvement.
According to Hunter, the Pi Beta Phis give to the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, a school in the founding chapter’s hometown, but their charity focus is encouraging literacy. The chapter is free to decide how and what they do to reach that goal, including donating books or supporting various schools or organizations dedicated to a common goal.
Most other Greek organizations have similar freedoms.
Sigma Nu plans on supporting the Midnight Mission, a local homeless shelter, with their tentatively scheduled blow-up boxing tournament later this spring. Several Tri Deltas volunteer at the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital and donate crafts for the children throughout the year, in addition to donating to St. Jude’s Children Cancer Research.
“We feel a personal connection with children with cancer because we have had one of our own members fight a battle with cancer,” said Brooke Womble, president of Delta Delta Delta. “The research that it takes to find a cure for these diseases that many children are stricken with must be funded financially. We know that our contribution, no matter what size it is or whether it is money or time, makes all the difference.”
It’s personal for Sigma Chi too.
“The proceeds (of the Run/Walk for Hope) go to the City of Hope Cancer Research Center in Pasadena,” said Paul Kennedy, president of Sigma Chi. “The race was started six years ago by our local chapter because one of our brothers lost his mother to cancer (who was being treated at City of Hope). Since then, another one of our brothers, who is currently an undergrad, also lost his mother to cancer. So it has an extra meaning to us.”
But regardless of their ties, each organization finds meaning in their efforts.
“We think it is an amazing cause that can change the lives of so many kids that might not have gotten the opportunity to take a break from their disease,” said Gamma Phi Beta President Jennifer Williamson of their philanthropy Camp Laurel, a camp for children with HIV and AIDS and their families. “They allow kids to go to camp with their families free of charge.”
Even the Pepperdine Panhellenic Association, the sororities’ governing body, feels compelled to participate.
“Since Panhellenic is representative of all the sororities on campus,” said Alexis Autrey, president of the Pepperdine Panhellenic Association, “we feel it is important to contribute to, and enhance, the philanthropic spirit among Greek women by being actively involved in philanthropies as a Panhellenic.”
According to Autrey, the group is sponsoring a trip to Santa Monica later this month to give peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to the homeless.
So ditch the visions of “Animal House” and start thinking more “Patch Adams.”
But don’t assume that the philanthropy is just a Greek idea.
“We’re kind of known (for our philanthropy) because of the atmosphere of our students in general,” said Nicole Phillips, student organizations coordinator.
“We do have that kind of focus, but as a campus we have that focus, with things like the volunteer center, Step Forward Day, things of that sort. We pride that definitely in the Greek system, but also in the campus in general.”
Caption
Photo by Jennifer Flannery
HUNT: Student Organizations Coordinator Nicole Phillips judges teams that took part in the scavenger hunt last Tuesday. More events are planned as alumni and families return to Pep.
February 07, 2002