Usually when someone mentions Greek Life, an image of John Belushi funneling cheap beer in a dingy house comes to mind. However, try to associate the Greek community at Stony Brook with that image and you’ll be confounded. Greek life at Stony Brook boldly breaks free of that mold and, instead, follows a tradition reminiscent of being in college, having fun and making lifelong friends.
At Fraternity and Sorority Night, organized by the Inter-Fraternity and Sorority Council and held in the Student Activities Center on Thursday night, the Greeks showcased themselves marvelously.
Inside, one group of five girls seemed full of energy as they practiced their dance. “Tonight is basically for people interested in joining the Greek Community,” Jennifer Meck, one of the girls in the group and a member of Alpha Kappa Delta Phi sorority, said. “We give them information about what it is like to be Greek, and all the different fraternities and sororities will perform in a showcase for everyone.”
At one table, which Sigma Delta Tau set up, the girls spoke about the different aspects of Greek life, even to those who weren’t particularly interested in joining. When the girls talked about Greek Week, a weeklong event in which the entire Greek community at Stony Brook works for charity together, it was clear that being a member of a sorority or fraternity at this school does not limit you to your individual chapter. As a member of a Greek organization on campus, events like Greek Week and Fraternity and Sorority Night allow you to meet with members of other chapters as well.
As time passed, I could tell that the energy level in the room was high.
Some guys from Sigma Alpha Mu and Alpha Phi Delta Fraternity decided to make themselves examples of how entertaining and refreshing it can be to talk to a group of fraternity members. However, they weren’t the stereotypical fraternity members you might expect. Not only were they well mannered, but intelligent as well — a complete deviation from any ‘frat boy’ stereotypes. They explained how the showcases, like those tonight, normally work: chapters would be randomly chosen and given three minutes to perform a routine on stage.
Each group that performed was as unique as they were entertaining: from perfectly choreographed hip-hop routines to jaw-dropping step routines. One fraternity, Malik, even wowed the crowd by performing a three-minute dance shirtless. A few acts later into the night, a three-minute countdown appeared on the large projection screen behind the stage. A few members of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity stepped on stage and were greeted with roaring; they performed a mesmerizing step routine.
Whether it was a group of girls singing along to the Spice Girls or a perfectly choreographed routine, the energy of the performers was felt throughout the audience and was reciprocated with overwhelming support.
The Inter-Fraternity and Sorority Council’s Fraternity and Sorority Night excitingly showcased the vibrant Greek community that lives at Stony Brook.
The next time you see someone walking on campus proudly displaying Greek letters across their chest, remember that those letters are backed by tradition and honor. The bond that you receive while earning those letters is something that seems unmatched by any other organization on campus.
