Delta Chi crowns Miss Greek IU 2013

The orchestra section of the IU Auditorium floods with people as 18 women take the stage in cocktail dresses. Screams erupt throughout the auditorium as chapters cheer their sisters on. Each participant introduces themselves and their philanthropy.

The competition was off.

Delta Chi sponsored their second annual Miss Greek IU Tuesday night. The pageant doubles as their philanthropy. Their goal this year was to raise $15,000 after they raised $12,500 last year. All of the money goes to the V Foundation for cancer research.

This year they raised $22,500 for the foundation.

The national office for Delta Chi picked the V Foundation as the fraternity’s charity.

“We attempted to do other philanthropies,” Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator Geoffrey Kerbis said. “But one year we lost money and nationals had to pay us back.”
Kerbis said they wanted to create a fun event that people would be interested in.

Although there are several categories the women are judged on from ball gown to interviews, it is more than a pageant, Kerbis said.

“It is their philanthropy, not just a bunch of girls parading around,” said Terrin Thomas, Miss Greek IU 2012.

Founding Coordinator Jackson Alvarez said Delta Chi was trying to connect the IU community by inviting the breakdance club along with other student organizations to participate while the girls changed during the event. Alvarez said they also wanted to include everyone greek.

“It was open to all councils,” Alvarez said. “It helps with unifying the greek community.”

Anyone who wanted to apply to be in the contest could. Kerbis said potential applicants just had to fill out an application. The first 18 chapters who submitted applications secured a spot.

“Some chapters had multiple girls apply,” Kerbis said. “We chose the best representative for the house.”

Thomas was crowned Miss Greek IU 2012 and Miss IU 2013.

“It was really cool to be the first one,” Thomas said.

Thomas said she remembers Alpha Chi Omega sisters showing up to support her.

“I didn’t even know all of them since I was a freshman,” Thomas said. “It was awesome to see everyone turn out.”

As Miss Greek IU, she had the opportunity to go to most of the greek philanthropies to represent her title. Thomas said it was Delta Chi’s way of showing support for each greek house.

“It was neat to show unifying support at all of the philanthropies,” Thomas said. “There is a stereotype that we are all always competing.”

The women started with an interview Sunday. Tuesday night they wore outfits that best represented their philanthropy from Theta Phi Alpha’s dress made out of a Twister mat to Delta Zeta’s turtle head costume to Alpha Omicron Pi’s hotdog and baseball glove attire.

“It is so rewarding to do so much good with so much passion,” Thomas said.

The woman who raised the most received a 15 out of 15 in that category, which was Chelsea Chaffee of Theta Phi Alpha.

Five girls remained. They each got to pick one question out of a fishbowl. The five judges then chose the runner up and winner. After the final round of question and answer, Chaffee was named Miss Greek IU.

“It is truly rewarding to see so many people working together,” Alvarez said. “This is greater than Delta Chi. It is building a community.”