"Formal Season is quickly Approaching"

  Anyone in the Greek system knows that all semester, one event is constantly on their mind; Formal.  Yes, like a winter formal, prom-like affair except at a much more entertaining venue, lack of strict guidelines, and most definitly a party bus.
  Each of the individual sororities and fraternities hold their own individual formals and locations range from all over. 
  "This year, our formal is at a venue in Lakewood that looks really cool! We all take party buses with our dates from our sorority house to the venue so no one has to worry about driving!" said Melanie Stein, a member of Delta Delta Delta.
  However, since there are seven sororities, it is almost impossible to ensure that the various formals won't occur on conflicting dates. 
  "This year, there are four on the same night!  Delta Gamma, Gamma Phi, Tri Delta, and Alpha Phi's formals are all on May 6, so I made sure to coordinate my date in advance!" said Ashely Boyer of Gamma Phi Beta. 
   Sorority's formals tend to be locally based since they only last for one night. However, the fraternities who have the means hold their formals in more exciting locations and usually entail a two or three day ordeal.
   "Kappa Sig always goes to Vegas, it's literally the most exciting part of the year.  We all stay in a hotel and hang out at the pool all day and then the second night they have their formal in the ballroom, it's crazy, I went last year and am got asked this year as well !" said Erin Brown. 
   Although Vegas seems like an ideal destination, other fraternities plan on other locations.
   "SAE goes to Palm Springs for our formal and it's a blast! I know other frats go to Vegas or Santa Barbara, but Palm Springs is a much closer drive and it's been epic the last three years I've gone!" said Michael Rindfleisch, a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
Despite the location, formals are an event not worth missing!  Members are not limited to taking Greeks and it is a great way to meet new people, dance the night away, and celebrate the end of the school year!
=Emily Andrews=


Kappa Sigma President, Tristan Friend poses at Kappa Sigma's Formal in 2010.  Photo Credit; Erin Brown

  


Tri Delta's pose at Pi Kappa Alpha's Formal!  Photo Credit; Lizzie Vogel



Couples snap a quick picture at Theta Chi's 2010 Formal!  Photo Credit; Rachel Hamer

"Throwing Frisbees to Fight Cancer"

  Delta Delta Delta prepares for their annual philanthropy event, an Ultimate Frisbee tournament that takes place this Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 9 a.m. at Marina Vista park in Long Beach.  The sorority, that holds various events throughout the calendar year does so in order to raise funds for St. Jude Children's Research hospital and aid the fight against child cancer.
  The event encourages fraternities to compile teams with their members and participate in the tournament.  Each team is assigned two Delta Delta Delta members to coach them.
  "This year, I am coaching Sigma Pi Fraternity and I can't wait to cheer them on!  I am planning on making them posters and bringing bagels and orange juice to motivate them on this early Saturday morning!" said Lizzie Vogel, Alumn Relations Chair woman for Delta Delta Delta.
  The tournament style of the event calls for a full day ordeal as well as a little healthy competition!
  "Every year, Theta Chi is the expected winner because a lot of their guys play on the CSULB ultimate frisbee team; but this year, we're really going to try and win!" said Wes Stephens of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and a participator in the event.
  Funds are raised by requiring an entry fee by each team that participates as well as T shirt sales.
  "The teams pay an entry fee of $150.00 and shirts are sold for $10.00 each, these two factors generate a good donation!" said Emma Cade, President of Delta Delta Delta. 
 "In the past, we've had a great turn out for the event and it's something that isn't as generic as soccer or basketball, which gives the Greek system a little different scene than what we're used to.  Also, we have an amazing philanthropy and Delta Delta Delta as an organization always puts philanthropy first!" said Amanda Massie, Vice President of Philanthropy for Delta Delta Delta.
  Non-Greeks as well as families are invited to come watch the tournament this weekend and support a great cause! 
=Emily Andrews=


Join Delta Delta Delta this weekend for their annual Ultimate FrisbeeTournament! Photo Credit; Amanda Massie



Kappa Sigma Fraternity poses at last year's Ultimate Frisbee event! Photo Credit; Erin Brown

Last year's winners Theta Chi celebrate their victory!  Come support your favorite fraternity this Saturday!
Photo Credit; Rachel Hamer

"Long Beach to Sendai"

   Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT) Fraternity is opening up the doors of the Sevilla Night Club to fellow Greeks and CSULB students for "Long Beach to Sendai" on Thursday, April 28th at 9:30 p.m.  The event which is a dance club party has already drawn an immense amount of attention considering that the available pre-sale tickets are rapidly becoming more difficult to attain.
  "The fraternity is pairing up with 'What's Good with it'  more commonly known as "WGWit" a music based blog to raise money for the victims of the tsunami and earthquake in Japan and provide a fun social event for everyone!" said Rachele Friendland, a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority and staffed blogger for "WGWit."
   "This is an ideal event for us to put on because it not only supports a great cause and shows that us as Greeks are personally trying to make as much of a difference in Japan as we can, but it's a fun environment and who doesn't like a dance party?" said Alec Gonzalez, a member of ZBT. 
    Tickets can be purchased from a member of the fraternity for a pre-sale price of $5.00 or at the door of the night club for $10.00.  For interest in purchasing tickets, feel free to visit the event's facebook page to coordinate ticket sales, ask questions, or show support! 
   One hundred percent of the proceeds collected from "Long Beach to Sendai" will be directly donated to the American Red Cross to provide relief for the victims in Japan. 
=Emily Andrews=

Bring your friends to the event on Thursday for a night of dancing and a great time!  Photo Credit; Jordan Reynolds

Greeks Come Together to Send Relief to Japan

   Cal State Long Beach's Gamma Phi Beta and Sigma Alpha Epsilon have joined together with the American Red Cross to provide a blood drive on Wednesday, April 27, 2011.  The blood drive will be taking place at the Gamma Phi Beta house located at 2929 E. Broadway Ave. in Long Beach and will be held from 12 to 5 p.m.
  "We decided to do the blood drive to raise blood in general, but originally; we wanted to raise blood for the victims of the disaster in Japan," said Maya Latimore, a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority.
  Greeks as a community have held other various fundraisers attempting to raise funds to relieve the stress in Japan, however; this is the first and only Greek related blood drive.
  "Even though our main goal is to donate as much blood as possible to Japan, the Red Cross can not automatically guarantee that the blood donated at the drive will make it to Japan because it is a process that can entail complications.  But, regardless we are still saving lives by having the drive and we are trying our hardest to get a great turn out!" said Ashley Boyer, Vice President of Membership for Gamma Phi Beta.
  In addition to hosting the blood drive, the ladies of Gamma Phi Beta will be hosting a bake sale that will be taking place during the event. 
  "All the money made from the bake sale will be going straight to the American Red Cross, it's the least we can do for the people still suffering in Japan," said Craig Mace, a second year in Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
  Be sure to look for The Red Cross blood mobile parked in front of the sorority's house on Wednesday and stop by to donate blood to a great cause!
=Emily Andrews=

Help Gamma Phi Beta and Sigma Alpha Epsilon donate blood to Japan this Wednesday! Photo accessed from "Blood Drive" event page

Greek Week Winners Announced!

   The remainder of CSULB's Greek Week consisted of "Greek Feuds," a Greek oriented speaker, "Penny Wars," and "Greek Games." 
   "Greek Feuds," a spin off of Family Feud, the television show was set up in the same manner but consisted of questions regarding the various team's super heros, villians, and other facts regarding the films which they derive from.
   "The trick of the game is that you can't be prepared for questions from just your team's movie because there will be tons of questions from other team's movies and in order to win, you need to know the whole scope of questions!" said Kristine Turner a member of Team 7.
   Team 1 took the game show by storm and took the win, giving them an advantage.
   "Penny Wars," another activity featured in Greek Week consists of each team collecting merely pennies and for every piece of silver coin or dollar bills, the team receives a deduction; this is a huge determining factor in who does well in Greek Week. 
  "In past years, there have been teams who have intentionally tried to sabatoge others by putting dollar bills in other teams containers, one year; a team even came together to put a one hundred dollar bill in anothers! This year, we are trying to encourage the teams to play fair," said Teresa Benedetti, coordinator of marketing for CSULB Panhellenic Council.
  Team 1 won the penny war as well and the Greek community's attention quickly shifted to Team 1 as they became a serious competitor for Team 6. 
   The speaker that took place on Thursday of Greek Week and rewarded the teams with the most amount of attendees, the most points.  Those winners were not announced for this portion of Greek Week.
  The concluding event in Greek Week and the moment of truth was "Greek Games" which is a combination of various team building based games that inspire team work and call for positive attitudes. 
  "Greek Games is the last attempt that we all have to try and go for the win!  It's a pretty competitive environmet, but tons of fun!" said Tim Kozina of Team 6. 
  The week came to a close and the winners were announced as a surprise on a banner hung in the University Student Union, "Congratulations Team One!"


Congrats to Team One! Photo Credit; Melanie Stein



Greeks Get Creative with Cans and Fight Hunger

   "Can Castle" is another unique yet fun component of Greek Week and took place on April 19,2011 at the Beach Circle.  The event involves each team competiting to donate the most amount of canned food as well as create the most original "castle" or design.
    "People get really competitive with Can Castle because its such a huge event in the middle of campus and there are usually a lot of people who see it on the way to class and can't help but watch," said Erik Mullick of Team 2. 
   Many couldn't help but stop on their way to upper campus as the cans piled high and the competition intensified.
   "I was leaving CBA from my accounting class on my way up to Starbucks and as I approached the bridge to get to upper campus and was really confused to see all of these people trying to stack cans, I couldn't help but walk over," said David Rindfleisch a Junior at CSULB. 
    All of the canned food items that are brought in an attempt to win the competition are further donated to a local food bank in Long Beach,CA.
   "Our team got a huge donation from Campbells Soup and were able to come together to bring 5,000 cans! It feels great to know that by our team coming together for such a positive cause, we are able to really make a difference and enjoy a fun day!" said Sydney Thompson of Team 6.
   "Can Castle" consists of two awards for both the teams who produced the most amount of cans and who compiled the most intricate creation.  Team 6, the winner of Greek Sing won both of these awards and Team 1 consisting of Sigma Kappa, Pi Kappa Phi, Phi Psi, Theta Kappa Epsilon, and Zeta Epsilon Theta. 
   The remainder of Greek Week gives the rest of the teams an opportunity to rack in the points and attempt for the win!  Good Luck to all the teams!
=Emily Andrews=



Team 6, who won both Greek Sing and Can Castle donated 5,000 cans to help fight hunger. Photo Credit; Sydney Thompson

Team 5's Wonder Woman drew a big audience at the "Can Castle" event.  Photo Credit;Daniella O'Neil



Greek Sing 2011

     Friday, April 15,2011 was a highly anticipated event for the Greek community, Greek Sing.  The dance competition that took place in the Walter Pyramid located on the CSULB campus.
    The teams relentlessly practiced as they prepared for the competitive ordeal in hopes of winning the title. However,as a whole, the Greeks hoped to raise proceeds for  One Heartland and they succeeded.     
  "Our profit expectations were completely surpassed, we raised $18,000 dollars from ticket sales and made an amazing donation to One Heartland!" said Christina Fallon, Finance Chair woman for the Panhellenic Council. 
   The central ordeal of Greek Sing comes down to who wins the event as a whole, prompting an amount of competition. 
  "Gamma Phi Beta is known to place every year because alot of our girls have been dancing for years and look forward to this event all year long," said Jeniffer Van Vee, a second year member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority.
   Although there were pre-determined expected winners, the course of the night displayed otherwise and another team took home the win. Team 6 consisting of Kappa Sigma, Delta Gamma, Lambda Sigma Gamma, and Lamba Theta Alpha whose super hero was Captain America , wowed the audience with their high participation and unique routines.
    "We really came together as a team; made new friends, worked together for the win, and had tons of fun.  I am so proud of all of my brothers and fellow team mates!" said Nick Rowe, a Freshman and active member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. 
   Greek Sing is the first component of "Greek Week" which is an extension of the competition that concludes the week following the competition.  Although Team 6 most definitly found themselves gaining points and an advantage in the week long ordeal, they are not guaranteed any "easy win." 
   "Even though we didn't win, I am looking forward to Greek Week because it still gives us an opportunity to get points and possibly win the overall week!" said Kathryn Lancendorfer who participated in Team 7's performance.
   Greek Week kicks off on April 18th with a Restaurant Fundraiser at Ruby's and California Pizza Kitchen, flyers are available at the CSULB Greek Week Facebook Page.

Team 6 shows their team spirit after winning Greek Sing! Photo Credit; Troy Fleiner

   

Delta Gamma Sorority poses after claiming the win at Greek Sing.  Photo Credit: Sydney Thompson


  =Emily Andrews=

Greeks as a Community Prepare for Greek Sing



Greek Week, hosted by Cal State Long Beach Greeks raises proceeds for One Heartland.  (Accessed from One Heartland's Facebook page)

 One of the most highly anticipated Campus Greek Events, "Greek Sing" is quickly approaching on April 15,2011 in the Pryamid located on the CSULB campus.  "Greek Sing" which is an annual event that takes place every Spring Semester can most easily be described as a dance production competition.  The various InterFraternity Council, Panhellenic,and Cultural Chapters are randomly divided into teams in order to increase relations and eliminate bias.  In addition, every year there is a different theme.  "Greek Sing is the best part of Greek Week and is something I look forward to every year, this year the theme is Super heros!  My team's Super hero is Iron Man and I can't wait to start chereographing!" said Kristine Turner, a member of Delta Delta and Team Seven.  This year there are Seven Teams as follows; Team One's Hero is Thor, Team Two's is Superman, Team Three's is Batman,Team Four's is Green Lantern, Team Five's is Wonder Woman, Team Six's is Captain America, and Team Seven's is Iron Man.  Teresa Benedetti, a member of the Panhellenic Council said "Greek Sing is a component of Greek Week which is a week long ordeal that includes various activities.  All of the proceeds from both Greek Sing and GreekWeek benefit the charity One Heartland."  One Heartland works to promote and spread AIDS awareness and prevention.  Their main project is "Camp Heartland" which is the largest camp for children effected by HIV/AIDS and offers them an environment where they feel both welcome and loved.  The Greek Community prides itself on philanthropy work and this is another example of their amazing efforts for an amazing cause. 


Greeks at CSULB participate in many fundraising events for various organizations. (Accessed from CSULB Website via Greek Life)

=Emily Andrews=