Annual Meet the Greeks event draws a crowd
By Greg Patuto | Published Feb 8, 2017
On Wednesday, January 25, 2017, students, alumni, staff, family and friends lined up inside the Harwood Arena in anticipation for the biannual Spring 2017 Meet the Greeks. Doors for this event opened at 5 p.m. and the festivities ranged from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
With music blaring inside the gymnasium, the fraternity brothers and sorority sisters were putting the final touches on their display tables. A sense of excitement and anxiousness filled the air as everyone was waiting to see what this year’s event was going to bring.
Delta Phi Epsilon, the largest sorority on Kean’s campus, did a replica of the famous Las Vegas, Nevada sign. The sign had a pink outline and read “Welcome to Fabulous DPHIE.” The table itself was pink and filled with decorations to satisfy the Vegas theme.
There are over 300 Greek life members at Kean University and over 9 million around the country. Kean recognizes 15 fraternities, 14 sororities and one co-ed organization. Each and every organization is unique and has different things to offer but they all share the same goal.
“Sororities and fraternities do a bunch of community service,” explained Michelle Martinez, a senior majoring in psychology. “They raise so much money for so many different [causes]. My sorority raises a lot of money for ALS specifically.”
Students and potential members of Greek organizations ranged from freshmen to seniors to transfer students looking to become more involved. To become a member, there are some guidelines to follow.
A new member must have a 2.5 grade point average and have completed at least 12 credits at Kean. They must submit a prospective new member information form and attend a new member orientation meeting on University guidelines and state laws.
Prospective students are not the only ones feeling nervous and anxious, every year the organizations wait patiently and look forward to seeing the new faces they can bring in.
“It’s definitely a little nerve wracking but it’s absolutely a really exciting process,” said Martinez. “You never know who you’re really going to get but hopefully through it all you get a bunch of new girls with new great ideas that they can bring to the organization.”
The Greek students will soon begin working on the next step of the process of getting to know the prospective members. Meet the Greeks is the first step to finding your new home and building friendships that will last a lifetime.
“I think a night like this brings Kean University together as a whole and it introduces Greek life to potential members,” said Saajan Pabari, a sophomore majoring in psychology. “I think it’s just a great way to bond with each other.”
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