Coneys, Contests and Service Highlight Greek Week

It’s a spring celebration that can cause a double-take on campus, as the University of Cincinnati’s Greek Week gets into full swing May 10-17. UC’s sororities and fraternities will compete in coney eating and chariot races. Plus, they’ll roll up their sleeves for a blood drive and other service-related events, as the organizations rack up the points to take home the winning trophy.

Last year, Greek Week brought in nearly 4,000 pieces of donated clothing for local charities, plus raised $7,872 for the March of Dimes Jail & Bail fund-raiser. Members who participated in UC and Hoxworth’s annual spring blood drive raised 241 pints of blood for the community in 2002, and the annual Order of Omega honorary organization cookout raised $4,000 for the local Lighthouse Youth Shelter.

Here are some of the highlights of Greek Week 2003:

Saturday, May 10
9 a.m. Sand Aid “beach” volleyball tournament at the Triangle house, located at 2625 University Court. The Triangle Fraternity is the only Greek fraternity devoted to an academic discipline. Members include mathematicians, engineers and scientists. Teams will pay an entry fee to join the tournament. The money will be donated to a charitable organization.

Sunday, May 11
1 p.m. Mother’s Day Sing at Zimmer Auditorium. The Greeks put on a special show just for Mom, as they compete for the best presentation.

Monday, May 12
10 a.m.-4 p.m. UC Spring Blood Drive at the Event Pavilion. Greeks will compete to bring the most blood donors to Hoxworth Blood Center.

11 a.m.-2 p.m. March of Dimes “Dime War” fund-raiser on Campus Green.

7-10 p.m. Lip Sync Finals, Zimmer Auditorium. Move over, Milli Vanilli. The Greek organizations will be working on their best song-and-dance routine, backed up by a pre-recorded soundtrack.

Tuesday, May 13
10 a.m.-4 p.m. UC/Hoxworth Blood Drive at the Event Pavilion.

5 p.m. Order of Omega Honorary picnic on Sigma Sigma Commons.

5:50 p.m. Save room for more -- the traditional Greek Skyline Coney Eating Contest gets underway with a gulp on Sigma Sigma Commons. The event will also feature a pie-eating contest.

Wednesday, May 14
10 a.m.-4 p.m. UC/Hoxworth Blood Drive at the Event Pavilion.

11 a.m.-2 p.m. Charitable clothing drive on McMicken Commons. Collections have been underway at the Greek houses.

2 p.m. Water volleyball game at the Pi Kappa Alpha house at 3400 Brookline Ave.

Thursday, May 15
10 a.m.-4 p.m. UC/Hoxworth Blood Drive at the Event Pavilion.

11 a.m.-2 p.m. March of Dimes Jail & Bail fund-raiser on McMicken Commons.

3 p.m. Slam Dunk Contest at the Alpha Tau Omega house, located on the corner of Probasco and Stratford.

6 p.m. The Greek Gods and Goddesses Talent Show at Zimmer Auditorium.

Friday, May 16
10 a.m.-3 p.m. The annual dunking booth for charity on McMicken Commons. Try to stay high and dry. Those with a good pitching arm can wind up for a dollar a throw, or pay three dollars for five throws.

4 p.m. Belly Flop competition at the Phi Delta Theta house, 2718 Digby Ave.

Saturday, May 17
11 a.m. Greek Games at Nippert Stadium and the soccer field, the grand finale of Greek Week. Events feature the traditional chariot races, the Tug-of-War contest, a potato sack toss, an obstacle course and a Double-Dutch jump roping contest.