Demetria Cantu
News Reporter
The University of Houston's Houston Collegiate Panhellenic Association and the Interfraternity Council Greek organizations joined forces last week during Greek Week, one of the university's oldest annual traditions.
Fourteen Greek organizations collected more than 1,500 cans of food, all of which will go to help Kid Care, a meals-on-wheels program that benefits the underprivileged children of the Houston Independent School District.
In order to compete, each person had to donate two non-perishable food items per event.
"Basically, the UH Greek Week is dedicated to Interfraternity and Panhellenic organizations getting together and having some fun while doing some good at the same time," said IFC President Cory Harrell.
"It's not only us, though. Greek Week is sponsored all across the nation," he said.
The festivities began Feb. 9 with a banner contest in the University Center. Banners from all 14 Greek participants were entered into the contest, all hoping to be voted the best.
In the end, the banners from Chi Omega and Lambda Phi Epsilon were judged the winners. Nearly 300 Greeks also showed off their spirit in the Spirit Contest, in which individuals signed in at the Cougar Den wearing their letters.
Tuesday, Greek members had the opportunity to meet new people and see new faces at the barbecue mixer and pledge presentation in the Athletic/Alumni Facility.
Barbecue, provided by Trigg's Catering Company, brought about 250 members out to join in the fun.
"Greek Week is a great idea. We get the chance to build unity within the Greek community. Students get the chance to see that we're more than just the typical Greeks. We're all about philanthropy, community service and we're just having good, healthy fun, supporting our school," said Panhellenic Adviser Josey Evans.
Greek Week continued Wednesday with about 30 members rallying to support the Cougar baseball team as it battled the Rice Owls. The day ended with the infamous lip sync contest, in which all the participating organizations got in the Valentine's Day mood as they bashed or promoted this year's "Love" theme.
Songs and dances from the movie My Best Friend's Wedding, as well as Tau Kappa Epsilon and Phi Mu's spoof of the Spice Girls, were at the top of the list of favorites.
At the end of the evening, Valentine's Day cards made by each chapter were collected and donated to a local retirement home.
The Athletic/Alumni Facility also held Thursday's Greek Games contest, where events such as the three-legged race, the wheel barrow race and the human pyramid took place.
"We did things a little different this year. We tried to show more school spirit by going to athletic activities and events," Evans said. "Overall, though, Greek Week was a success. Everyone seemed to have a great time, and it all goes to help Kid Care."
Greek Week ended at the Longhorn Cafe downtown, where individuals ate Mexican food while waiting to see if they, or their Greek organizations, were going to win a prize.
This year, individual Greeks were nominated by their organizations for the man and woman of the year contest. Nominees were judged based on Greek activity, community service, scholarship and philanthropy.
This year's class winners were freshmen Charles Campbell (Delta Upsilon) and Amber Moon (Phi Mu); sophomores Tim Kutka (Delta Upsilon) and Julie Fischer (Alpha Chi Omega); and juniors Peter Psarovarkas (Sigma Chi) and Monica Quintero (Chi Omega).
Greek Man and Woman of the Year awards went to Matthew Miller of Phi Kappa Theta and Heather Shirk of Delta Gamma.
The overall group winners of Greek Week, based on winning the most points, were Phi Mu and Phi Kappa Theta.
Based on the Greeks' overall goals, helping the needy while building school spirit, Greek Week was a success. All members had the chance to get out and help the children in need, and they had fun doing it.