Annual barbecue introduces the Greek way of life

The first week of the academic school year at FIU is always filled with plenty of events to enjoy, especially for incoming freshman who are just starting to get the layout of the college social life.One of these events, the Greek BBQ, created by the Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Council, has been hosted at the University for over a decade.Both these councils set up this “meet and greet” as a way to welcome back returning undergrad and alumna members of their council as well as introduce greek life to new students. Over time the event grew to incorporate the other two councils on campus, the National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Multicultural Greek Council.

Alexis Fulks, who has been the Campus Life Assistant Director for the past two years and is also the Greek Advisor for IFC and PC, said, “Being greek is a lifelong commitment and not just intended for your four years as an undergrad; because FIU is such a commuter school it solidifies the relationships you have with people in your fraternity or sorority.”

Fulks, who is an alumna and has been a member of Alpha Xi Delta since 2002, believes that the media sometimes exemplifies greek life in a negative way and some freshmen and even returning students may have that idea embedded in them when return to classes.

The Greek BBQ is a another way for the new students to see the positive things about greek life that the campus has to offer. With four distinct councils who have an array of sororities and fraternities to choose from, the BBQ is made to involve and educate students, and a chance for all the organizations of each council to represent themselves and their philanthropy at the BBQ.

One of the main attractions of the BBQ is when the different organizations start strolling, which Fulks said is not premeditated.

Everyone comes dressed in their paraphernalia, from greek shirts to greek tikis and paddles, and because the venue is the GC ballrooms lawn there is always room for any number amount of students to join and watch.

Last year’s BBQ brought a total of two thousand students, if not more. The count is based on tickets given to students for food and beverages, but does not represent the total number of students who attend just to see what is going on.

This year’s flyer is a BBQ bottle with the details of the “Welcome BBQ” on the front and each councils “week” or “recruitment” dates on the back. Campus Life also hopes to keep expanding the event through social media networks like twitter and facebook, whose event page alone already has over 600 confirmed guests attending the BBQ. The event is being catered by “Shorty’s Barbeque Restaurant”, along with a resident DJ to set the festive mood.

“The best part of the Greek BBQ is the aftermath. To look back and recall all the good things and the different ways all the organizations had a chance to be represented is the best part for me,” said Fulks.