Annual Greek Life Homecoming festivities are underway as Homecoming Week kicked off Monday.
This year’s theme is “Carnival” with the tagline “Our Mountaineer Spirit Can’t Be Tamed.” A list of different themes was sent to delegates of each Greek Life chapter over the summer to vote on, according to Akeya Simeon, assistant director for the Center for Fraternal Values and Leadership.
Simeon said Greek Life wanted to pick a theme that would be eye-catching, fun and exciting for students. Carnival-themed items and food will be given out at Homecoming Week events.
“Who doesn’t love a good carnival,” she said. “We’ll have popcorn and candy apples and little different things like that for the students throughout the week.”
The festivities include the annual banner drop, Greek Games, Greek Alumni Hall of Fame and the Homecoming Parade. New additions were added to this year’s Homecoming Week, including a game show titled “Greek Family Feud” and Day of Service, during which Greek Life organizations participate in community service projects.
Eight teams will compete in the Greek Games, the game show and the parade, with members from three to four different Greek chapters and organizations on each team.
Simeon said the Greek Life Office took more ownership in planning new events this year, as the Panhellenic Council was responsible for Homecoming festivities in previous years. The new events aim to introduce students to Greek Life at WVU.
“As far as our game show night and our Day of Service, really integrating that philanthropic spirit into fraternity, sorority life,” she said. “It’s a great way for students to see them in their element and get to know them, even if they’re not a member of fraternity life.”
Throughout the week, teams will accumulate points for how well they follow the carnival theme, according to Simeon. Points are calculated at the end of the week and plaques and trophies will be awarded for first, second and third place.
“Spirit awards” will be given out to teams that didn’t place but showed dedication, sportsmanship, brotherhood and sisterhood.
Simeon said Homecoming is an important time for Greek Life because it allows the chapters and councils to collaborate together if they haven’t before.
“This is a time where all the organizations and all the councils come together to work together to show our Mountaineer spirit, but also to really commute and have that fellowship and belonging with one another,” she said.
Kyleigh Sampson, a junior and member of Pi Beta Phi, said she plans to participate in the Greek Games and enjoys the tug-of-war event. She said it’s important for students involved in Greek Life to participate in the events because it creates a connection between the chapters.
“Throughout the year, we get a lot of competition things between different chapters of Greek Life, and I think it’s good for us to be able to come together,” she said.
For more information and a full list of events, visit WVU Greek Life’s Instagram page.
