By Michael James de los Santos—
On Thursday, October 11, 2012 over 400 Greek brothers, sisters, alumni, and students gathered from across the country to fill New Jersey City University’s Student Multi-Purpose room for the most anticipated student event of the semester.
“Everyone looks forward to Meet the Greeks. Those are the student’s that show face on campus the most.” said Daniel Joseph, 22, Psychology, from Jersey City.
Meet the Greeks is an event every semester where Sororities and Fraternities unite to generate the excitement of “rushing,” a term coined on the act of joining a Greek organization. Each organization has its own history, values, and traditions.
This year the Greek Senate and Student Government Organization agreed to co-sponsor the event to alleviate cost of security and entertainment. The Greek Senate and Greek Organization’s themselves do not receive funds from the school.
Andray Tandacharry, NJCU Alumni and Alpha Phi Omega said that he “Saw that there is some attempt at unity. Meet the Greeks should be just that, a place where anyone who is interested in Greek life should [come to] get information.”
However, Tandacharry thinks that “For that to work though I think the stepping should be separated to a different time or just made to be a stepping event on its own.”
The music was provided by DJ Akademiks who says, “I really enjoyed the Meet the Greeks event at NJCU. I attended last year Meet the Greek event and was honored enough to have the opportunity to DJ this years and it was a very electric atmophere.”
DK Akademiks has done many “Meet the Greek” events across New Jersey, but “[The] NJCU “Meet the Greeks” is very special to me because of the close knit relationship between everyone I had the opportunity to work with. The event went great and embodied the epitome of Unity not among Greek organizations but among students in general.”
NJCU students were allowed to “purchase” Meet the Greek tickets for no charge, however, this year’s tickets sold out rather quickly. Students such as, Jonathan Rivera, 21, Math, from North Bergen, complained that “Meet the Greeks was definitely better this year, but the fact that people from other schools have to pay is stupid. Many Greeks [organizations] like to bring in members from other school and paying really turns off people.”
Despite the $5 charge, color coordinated crowds flooded the GSUB hallways. There is no surprise that NJCU’s “Meet the Greeks” brings the biggest crowds.
Fun Facts about Greeks:
• All but two U.S. presidents since 1825 have been fraternity men.
• 63 percent of the U.S. presidents’ cabinet members since 1900 have been fraternity men.
• Both women nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court were sorority members.
• 85% of Fortune 500 Executives belong to a fraternity or a sorority.