Greek Carnival goes Disney in UMaine
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This Saturday at noon, members of University of Maine fraternities and sororities will be jumping into pools of water on the mall, many of them dressed as Disney characters.
“We’re going to have fairies and who knows what else jumping into the water,” said Stacey Gomm, vice president of programming for the Panhellenic Council.
The Polar Bear Plunge is intended to raise money for the Penobscot Boys and Girls Club through pledges, said Colby Malcolm, president of the Interfraternity Council and a senior electrical engineering student. Gomm said the plunge raised more than $3,000 last year.
The event is the last of a weeklong competitive winter carnival between the fraternity and sorority chapters on campus. Events involve fundraising for charity, banner making, athletics and skit presentations. The event started Monday and ends with the Polar Bear Plunge Saturday.
The Panhellenic and Interfraternity councils organize the winter carnival, which is designed to promote “healthy competition among the Greeks,” according to Gomm. While active participation is limited to fraternity brothers, pledges, sorority sisters and new members, Gomm said the community is welcome to attend all events.
Judges not affiliated with any fraternity or sorority will assign points in each competition.
“The winning fraternity or sorority will get bragging rights for the whole year, and a huge trophy,” Gomm said. The winning sorority or fraternity will also receive money to help advertise during rush week.
According to Gomm, the Disney theme was chosen to promote “getting back to creative, youthful days.” Cody Bishop, vice president of programming for Interfraternity Council, said the theme is versatile and it “gives us a lot of options.”
The carnival events opened on Monday with a “letters sign-in” in the Memorial Union, according to Bishop. Greeks presented their letters, and sororities and fraternities were scored based on their participation. Later that day, the chapters presented banners they had created, which were also scored.
Greeks competed in sledding and dodge ball tournaments Tuesday at Lengyl Gymnasium. Gomm said there was some concern regarding this event, since as the name “Snow White Olympics” implied there would be snow on the ground, but reported there was some snow on Lengyl Field for the event and that there was a “great turnout.”
Wednesday evening, a trivia competition took place in the Bear’s Den, where the room was packed with sorority and fraternity members answering Disney trivia. Brothers and sisters also answered questions about Greek life.
The signature event of Greek Carnival, the “Greek Fantasia” talent show, will take place Thursday at 7 p.m. in Minsky Hall. A panel consisting of Associate Dean of Students Kenda Scheele, Director of First and Second Year Programs E.J. Roach and Assistant Director of Campus Activities Gustavo Burkett will judge these skits.
On Friday in the Alfond Arena, two singers from each Greek life chapter will lead a singing of the “Maine Stein Song” for the men’s ice hockey game.
The Orono Fire Department will supply water to fill the pools for the polar dip on Friday, Bishop said. Campus Recreation will provide the towels and the University Volunteer Ambulance Corps will be standing by in case of emergency. Warming tents will also be available, where participants can warm up and drink hot cocoa. The public is invited to attend.
2 Responses to “Greek Carnival goes Disney”
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Emily
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good page! Sophie