Greek chapters compete for trophy

Two greek chapters, one traveling trophy, campus-wide recognition and a party: The sorority-fraternity pair with the most Homecoming points will win it all.

The competition, a Homecoming challenge between greek chapters, is an effort by the Student Alumni Association’s greek strategic planning committee, a new addition to the SAA. The goal is to increase participation in Homecoming events within the greek community.

Graduate student Lindsay Faulstick is doing her practicum with SAA. She said the organization recognized low greek attendance during past Homecoming events, and she was asked to put together a greek task force to encourage participation.

In the spring, Faulstick visited chapters to promote the committee. She interviewed applicants and composed a main committee of 12 members. The remainder of the group is made up of student representatives from each chapter. She said members are not required to be members of SAA, and members of the main committee are not required to be greek members.

Faulstick said SAA is responsible for the organization of each event, and the committee is responsible for promoting the event to greek chapters. The committee encourages greek chapters to earn points through participation. Chapters not paired for Homecoming may also join the competition; Faulstick said the point system is adjusted to allow chapters without a pair to still compete.

Senior Kelly Starcevich, co-director of the committee, said the winners of the Homecoming competition will receive a traveling trophy with an engraving of the chapter name. She said the same trophy will be used each year. The winners will also receive recognition at the Homecoming game, and a party organized by the IU Alumni Association during a home basketball game. Starcevich said the second- and third-place chapters will win plaques.

“We had an amazing turnout at all the events so far,” Starcevich said.

Faulstick said greek representatives might have been hesitant to join in the first year, but she said more people are likely to get involved after this year’s progress.

“I think already it’s proven to be a success,” Faulstick said. “We have 14 pairs registered for various events.”

The pairs consist of a fraternity and a sorority who are matched together for the competition.

Senior Alex Fishman, parade chair of the committee, said her interest was sparked by the strategic planning aspect of the committee. Fishman said she would be involved with the committee again next year if she were not graduating and that she would like to pass the experience on to someone in her house.

“It’s really cool, and we’ve made such a difference this year,” Faulstick said.