Jessica Owen, freshman nursing major, Shae Coffin, freshman special education major, and Morgan Williams, freshman undecided, leave the Chi Omega house on Tuesday evening after their chapter meeting. Megan Gartner/ The Bulletin
This year, national fraternities and sororities at Emporia State will celebrate 100 years on campus.
“(Greek Life is) a highly visible group of students that work together in a brotherly and sisterly way to make the university a better place,” said Roger Heineken, administrative officer in the Memorial Union.
Phi Sigma Epsilon was the first national Greek organization on campus, founded in 1910 at what was then Kansas State Normal School. Since 1910, over 20 national fraternities and sororities have had chapters at ESU.
“I think it builds institutional loyalty. Greek alumni are often big supporters of the university long after they have graduated,” Heineken said.
Heineken is a member of Phi Delta Theta and was chapter adviser for 13 years.
“Being a member of Phi Delta, a fraternity, a life experience, we say we are a Phi Delt’ because we made a commitment for life,” Heineken said.
Events in celebration of the centennial will take place during Homecoming week. Many chapters will hold their individual activities but a few all-Greek events will bring everyone together to experience the memories.
Sigma Pi, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Tau Gamma, Sigma SigmaSigma and Chi Omega have events planned and on the schedule of events available online. Events take place Oct. 22 to Oct. 24 for individual chapters.
During the annual coffee reception a “walking timeline” will be held at 9 a.m. Oct. 23 at Memorial Union’s Main Street.
“It will have artifacts and some different things, yearbooks and things from different chapters at different decades,” said Michelle Hernandez, director of ESU Greek Life.
Other activities include an all-Greek social for alumni and current members held 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 23 at Natasha’s. A centennial float will be included in the Homecoming parade held 11 a.m. the same day on Commercial Street.
Meredith Bodyston, senior secondary English education major and member of Alpha Sigma Tau, said because of Greek Life, she is doing things she never would have done.
“I have a better sense of self awareness,” Bodyston said.
Heineken and other Greeks see the intrinsic value fraternities and sororities can play in enhancing the undergraduate experience.
“If Greeks were fly-by-night or had no value there wouldn’t be a centennial they would have fallen by the wayside a long time ago,” Heineken said.
Liz Coffey
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