Students are constantly bombarded with ads for all kinds of Greek philanthropies. Whether they involve playing Twister, performing a talent in front of tons of your peers, or paying to play volleyball in the mud, these events are promoted all around campus and for good reason. These are just a few of the charitable events the Greek community at Miami University puts on, but most people just shrug their shoulders, without giving a second thought to taking part in them. Every one of these philanthropic events supports a great cause (hence the name, philanthropy) and students should certainly consider getting involved. If you're one of the people who think Greek life is all about partying, the time and dedication Greeks put into these events should certainly make you reconsider such an assumption.
Pi Beta Phi and Phi Kappa Psi hosted Mud Volleyball earlier this semester to raise money for the Julie Turnbull Foundation, which honors the death of Julie Turnbull and two other Miami students who were caught in a tragic house fire off campus April 10, 2005. In this event students formed teams, paid an entrance fee, and then competed in a volleyball tournament, set on a muddy court.
"We had a really good turnout this year, we raised more money than we have in a long time," said Lauren Vogt, member of the Pi Beta Phi chapter. "Everyone really seemed to have a great time too."
Both Greeks and non-Greeks attended this event and with the large turnout Pi Beta Phi and Phi Kappa Psi were able to donate more money than they have in previous years.
Alpha Phi hosted its annual King of Hearts competition earlier this semester also. The competition was basically a talent show where any male student, Greek or non-Greek, could sign up and present their best talent in hopes of making it through a succession of rounds. All proceeds from the event went to heart disease awareness and advancements in cardiac care. The event was held in Hall Auditorium, where they charged a small entrance fee to anyone who wanted to come watch the wannabe "Kings." The floor of Hall was packed and Alpha Phi received many donations. Every participant also had to make a donation and there were a few fundraising events prior to the talent competition.
"It was a great opportunity to meet people and put on a show in front of a large audience," said junior Rory Billing, a participant at the King of Hearts, "The Alpha Phi's were able to put on quite a show."
If you haven't been to many or any of these events so far, it is worth looking into. There will be many events through this semester and next semester, so there will be plenty of opportunities to participate.
Alpha Xi Delta's and Pi Kappa Alpha will be putting on their Twister Tournament Saturday, where teams of four can compete in the classic game of Twister. Money raised by entrance fees and other donations will be given to Autism Speaks, an organization dedicated to changing the future for those who struggle with autism, which is on the rise in our country.
Another upcoming event is Couture for a Cure, hosted by Zeta Tau Alpha and Phi Delta Theta. This event will be held Nov. 15, and allow any student interested to participate in an all pink fashion show. All money made by this event will be donated to helping increase breast cancer awareness and to finding a cure.
Most of these events last only a couple of hours at most. Representatives of these events put many hours into organizing everything and would immensely appreciate it if people took a couple hours out of their day to get involved. Not only are you helping a good cause, but you're also getting to partake in some of the most fun events at Miami. This is a great time for anyone, Greek or non-Greek, to contribute to a good cause and have a good time. So the next time you hear about a philanthropy, think twice before tossing it aside.
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