University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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Chili Cook-Off Sisters of Gamma Phi Beta anxiously await their Chili Cook off each year. This year, they made almost $1 000 for charity. photo courtesy Qumnui Phi Beta Asking for donations, members of Delta Gamma raise money during Anchor Slam. This annual philanthropy is a creative way to give back to the community and provides members of the greek community with an afternoon of entertainment. photo courtesv Delta Qamma Wi t ' I 42 MlCHIGANENS

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on By Jana Kantor The brothers of Psi Upsilon were very happy this year. After low recruitment for fraternities in general over the past two years, Psi Upsilon doubled their membership and recruited twenty-one men during the 2001-2002 year. The large increase was due to the huge success of last year ' s rush. From Minnesota to Oklahoma, Florida to California, the Phi chapter of Psi Upsilon is well represented, stated Justin Hansen, Archon of Psi Upsilon. Winterfest was the annual charity event thrown by Psi Upsilon. Every winter, the brothers built an ice rink in their back yard. Fraternities competed in a hockey tournament to raise money for the charity of their choice. Previously, Psi Upsilon donated their funds to the Humane Society and UNICEF. This year, they even added a broomball competition to get sororities participating in their philanthropy. Also during the winter term, Psi Upsilon maintained their excellent house grade point average, one of the best on campus, and planned the Battle of the Bands with Alpha Delta Pi. Numerous local bands played all night, as the audience danced and sang to the music. Psi Upsilon not only was an active member in the Greek community by contributing money to a myriad of charities, but they also planned many parties to promote Greek life at the University. There is an optimistic attitude within the house; it is an attitude that is bound to bring future success. There is an immense amount of respect between brothers and for the house in general. The members are united, as Hansen proudly proclaimed. It was certain that Psi Upsilon would be a huge asset to the University in the future. Halloween is the favorite holiday tor Psi Upsi- lon brothers because they baint their faces and dress in crazy costumes. These actK e members made sure they were unrecogniz- able to the guests at their Halloween party. photo courtesy Psi Upsilon Arriving at Notre Dame three hours early to dnnk and party, the brothers of Psi Upsilon take a break from their burgers to pose for a picture. Psi Ubsilon held pre-game parties before Michigan football games and enthusi- asticalty cheered the Wolverines on to victory. photo courtesy Psi Upsiion Front Row: Tommy Conroy. Scott Bradform, Danny Huerta, Justin Hansen, Erik Abraham, Brian Metz, Cristian D ' Anna, David Golbahar, Adam McQueen Row 2: William Hackett, Jeff Moulton, Ken Stutzman, Derek Hrzek, Kevin Rice, Jeffrey Zens, Justin Smith, Scott Mendy. Julias Vass, John Ess Row 3: Nate DeRonne, Enc Mesh Back Row: Michael Markey. Ben Eichel, David Schiffnn. Nicholas Chang, Raw Patel, Scott Kbustin. Y. Qrmiatu photo GREEKS 341

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the ' gre By Kara DeBoer Each year the debate continued regarding the following question: was the Greek system, the home and life for many Michigan students, really just a way to buy one ' s friends? Almost weekly, an editorial was published and vehemently refuted in The Michigan Daily, and those inside and outside the system clashed with love and hate-filled sentiments about its true ideology. Talking with members of fraternities and sororities paints a different picture than one would predict from outside slander. Junior Laura Butler was President of Sigma Kappa and listed off several ways her house provided more than just a social life. Each year, we as a chapter donate to the Alzeimer ' s Association, volunteer at Brookhaven retirement home for Valentine ' s Day, and deliver motor meals every Saturday. The Greek system involves students both on campus and in the community at large, she said. Insofar as the social scene was concerned, Butler also argued that the system is trying to better its reputa- tion. We ' re trying to move the social scene out of the fraternity environment and into a more structured and more safe scene. Engineering junior Peter Moes, member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, said he did not dispute the fact that the Greek system buys friends, but argued that there were many other member benefits. I ' ll admit that that is one way to look at it if that is the outlook someone wants to take, then that ' s okay, he said. But the concept is applicable to any organization you pay to join and the friends you make as a result, like an honor society. The Greek system offers students leadership roles both in each house and outside in the community. Moes said the Greek system helped students stay involved at such a busy Uni- versity as Michigan, saying that many students attested to being involved in high school but running out of time in college. The Greek system lays out a lot of opportunities and had groups already actively volunteering, he added. There was no doubt that the debate will continue. A place existed for every stu- dent to be involved at the University, whether it be a club, organization, group of friends, job, or a house in the Greek system. The fact remained, however, that being a part of the Greek system made it easier to become involved with philanthropic events on campus. Shooting a hoop, a student volunteers some time to participate in anchor slam. Delta Gamma was able to recruit students not affiliated with the sorority to help raise money. photo courtesy Delta Qamma GREEKS 343