A week of inclusive activities, friendly competition and giving back to UNI’s campus and the Cedar Valley begins Monday, March 29 as members of the Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) community kick off Greek Week.

Greek Week is an annual series of events that strives to create a positive image on UNI’s campus for FSL, recognize Greek students as leaders, provide a space for members to showcase their pride for their organization and create opportunities to meet new people.

The celebratory week will consist of different activities each day that represent the four community pillars of scholarship, friendship, leadership and service. Taberie Van Boening, 2021 Greek Week Advisor, hopes these activities will best showcase what the FSL community stands for and what experiences it has to offer.

“Ultimately, focusing on the community pillars educates the campus community more about the fraternal experience and unites current fraternity and sorority members together in their common values,” she said.

Monday, March 29 and Tuesday, March 30 will both focus on the “service” pillar. Students will have the opportunity to volunteer at the Cedar Valley Foodbank from 1-3 p.m. FSL members will also be hosting a food drive throughout the week that can be found at the FSL office located upstairs in Maucker Union. On Tuesday, FSL members are asking students to write “thank you” letters to health care workers who have been working throughout the pandemic. These letters can then be dropped off at the Student Life desk or the FSL office between 5-6 p.m.

The “scholarship” pillar will be the focus of a virtual trivia night on Wednesday, March 31, as well as a study session for all students in Rod Library. In accordance with COVID-19 guidelines, students will be expected to socially distance from each other and wear face coverings.

Thursday, April 1 will focus on the “leadership” pillar with a virtual sexual assault awareness presentation. Finishing the week on Friday, April 2 will be the “friendship” pillar. Students are encouraged to participate in a “Greek God and Goddess social media showcase” by posting a photo with a fraternal friend and tagging @UNIFSL in order to be reposted.

By focusing on the four pillars, FSL members hope to offer students a chance to find a network of belonging and support at UNI. Van Boening believes that joining a fraternity or sorority will provide a space for students to explore their individual interests and grow alongside others who possess similar values.

“I hope (students) are able to learn more about the FSL community and the value of the membership experience,” she said. “Being a fraternity or sorority member provides opportunities for leadership positions, lifelong friendships, professional and career development, academic support, accountability and campus-wide connections.”

She continued, “At UNI, FSL challenges the negative media stereotypes and enhances the collegiate experience of hundreds of UNI students.”