The last days of March have come and gone and April is official underway. This not only means the commencement of annual springtime pranking, but for those in the Creighton Greek community, this brings something else with it: Greek Unity Week.  For those involved in sorority and fraternity life on campus — as I myself am — this means a series of events to gear up for.

Typically the week consists of a myriad of small events for each group involved — such as bonding over getting as many members to eat in one place as possible — as well as larger unifying events like this year’s musical variety show.

While these events are certainly entertaining for those involved — after all, who doesn’t enjoy a good lip synch — to me, there is a missing link. It is good for Greek organizations to strengthen themselves as a community, but there seems to be a lack of effort to collaborate as a whole to bond with the rest of the Creighton student body. 

Our time and effort might be better spent in involving more of the non-Greek community. Greek life shouldn’t be just about what we do within our organizations, but how we spread our work to the rest of the community.

My suggestion would be to have a Greek Connection Week once a semester. In the fall, it could provide a great opportunity for those who are interested in Greek life to learn what we are about: service and community.

There is no reason that non-Greek students shouldn’t be able to feel connected to the Greek community. If they wanted to participate in a talent show with us, it would be a great opportunity to let the student body get to know each sorority and fraternity.

Furthermore, it is also the responsibility of the Creighton Greek community to reach out to the Omaha community and the surrounding areas. Each organization is dedicated to service, but why not go out and serve together?

At my high school, we had something called “Serve Day.” It was a day where the entire student body, faculty and staff, took a break from attending classes to go out and serve the community. Creighton’s Greek community could do the same.

Greek unity and connection weeks should be an opportunity to “rally the troops,” to invite the Creighton and Omaha community out for an afternoon, and show that we care. I love the service that my sorority does, but that does not mean that I wouldn’t love to help with the services that the rest of the Greek community is dedicated to as well.

I’m not saying that Greek Unity Week doesn’t serve a purpose. There is certainly a need to foster a community spirit in Greek life here on campus. All I am saying is that there is an opportunity here. We have the ability to spread the spirit of Greek life, community and

service, and I think it is something we should do — moving forward — in order to grow as a community.