The University of Connecticut Intercultural Greek Council (IGC) hosted at a field day event on the Great Lawn this past Friday, August 30, to promote the council, its organizations and why students should join.
The IGC is the governing body for UConn’s culturally-based and multicultural fraternities and sororities. The IGC is one of four councils operating under the UConn Center for Fraternity and Sorority Development.
The council is made up of 12 culturally-based fraternities and sororities. Amy Contreras, a seventh-semester student and president of the IGC, said that these organizations are “culturally-based, but not culturally exclusive,” meaning that anyone, regardless of background, is welcome to join.
“We want to emphasize that everybody is welcome in all of these different organizations,” said Contreras. “Ethnicity, race, socio-economic background, it doesn’t matter.”
The event marked the first time that the council held a field day, although the council hosts frequent events throughout the year to foster community, including game nights, academic events and various recruiting events.
Members from each of the organizations represented by the council gathered on the Great Lawn for a series of games that featured each attendee participating in some capacity. The games kicked off with a four-person egg-in-spoon relay race that featured a close finish as members roared and cheered each other on. This was followed up by a water balloon toss, Kan Jam and a three-task relay.
The most competitive event was the trivia contest where members had to answer specific questions about other organizations and the IGC as a whole. The participants answered only a few questions wrong, showing a deep knowledge and respect for their fellow IGC members.
The games featured a competitive, but most importantly, fun atmosphere. Members of different organizations spent the evening chatting, laughing, catching up and taking photos with each other in a positive and light-hearted environment on a sunny evening.
While members socialized and participated in games, other members were set up at tables to take questions from attendees and passersby about their organizations and the IGC and share their stories and experiences of being involved.
The main theme for the event was community, as many said that they feel there is a deep sense of community in the organizations of the IGC, something that has shaped their college experience.
“I personally really value community, and I feel like here at UConn – considering it’s such a big campus – it can definitely be hard to find that,” said Riya Kalia, a third-semester student who is the secretary of the Delta Phi Lambda sorority. “For me Delta Phi Omega is the way I’ve met some of my closest friends and it’s so nice to have a family on campus.”
Contreras echoed Kalia’s sentiments, saying that the variety of different organizations within the council provides an opportunity for anyone to find a home.
“All these organizations are unique in their own way,” said Contreras. “I believe that anybody can find a home within any organization. All of these organizations are so special and they’re all very, very different.”
Members also spoke about their connection to their fellow organizations in the council. Ivan Chen, a seventh-semester student who is the president of the Lambda Phi Epsilon fraternity, described the organizations as a family of support.
“Even though we’re all from different organizations, we all help and support each other and talk to each other, it’s like a big family,” said Chen.
Contreras said that “our community may be smaller compared to other Greek organizations, but that means it’s a lot more tight knit” and that “I could probably name at least 80 % of these people here now.”
Contreras also discussed how the rushing processes for IGC organizations differs from those in the Panhellenic or Interfraternity Councils, as it longer and more in-depth to ensure that those who are interested build connections with the members, and vice versa.
“We are different because our process is a lot longer than rush week, and it’s also more intimate so you get to know the organizations a lot better than you would in just rush week,” said Contreras. “Here, we really take our time to get to know everybody and for them to get to know us so we can make sure that we establish those connections before they decide to join any organization.”
Contreras also emphasized the council’s firm anti-hazing stance, saying that hazing is one of the biggest misconceptions that fraternal organizations face and that it goes against the council’s goal of fostering community.
“Hazing is definitely a misconception amongst all of the fraternal organizations,” she said. “Everybody here emphasizes that nobody here hazes, especially for the fact that we’re all a community and we all take care of another, regardless of fraternal background.”
For more information on the Intercultural Greek Council, visit Intercultural Greek Council | Center for Fraternity & Sorority Development (uconn.edu).