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The Greek Story at USF

By Jason Ferguson

The Greek tradition at the University of South Florida dates back to the 1960s when the first secret fraternal organizations were founded. With names such as Tri-Sis, Kappa Iota Omega, and ENOTAS, the Greek system began its long and influential history. Many of the traditions, principles, and ideals that bonded the original fraternities and sororities are still instilled and repeated by today’s USF Greek letter organizations. These traditions are what tie not only the members of each organization together but also create a venue for all Greek organizations to enjoy the unity they have created with each other.

The largest and most popular Greek tradition is Greek Week. This yearly event, held each spring semester, is held to raise money for charities. Greeks from all over campus divide into teams to compete in games, participate in community service events, attend informational sessions and have fun, all for a good cause!

On any given Sunday, hundreds of students can be found around campus in business attire coming to and from their weekly fraternity and sorority chapter meetings. These meetings are for Greek members to plan and organize the events of their chapters as well as deal with any other issues that may come up within the organization.

A favorite hangout for Greeks is the Subway at Cooper Hall. This area is filled with members of the Greek system during the day. Students meet here to spend time with their friends between classes. It becomes obvious that this is the Greek place to be on Letters Day, every Wednesday, when many members wear their shirts and jerseys with the stitched letters of their organization on the front.

After a long day of classes, many students want to meet up with their friends at a local nightspot. The most famous local pub for Greeks is The Greenery. The Greenery has been a tradition at USF since 1977 and still seems to attract large crowds from the Greek system. When the typical week of classes is over on Thursday, students carpool in droves to Ybor City, Tampa’s premiere hot spot for people watching and club hopping.

Many of the traditions among USF Greeks are found within each fraternity or sorority chapter. Most organization’s events include a formal where each member invites a guest for a night of dinner and dancing. Other popular tradition are Greek socials. At USF, groups will formally bid another group (or groups) in their chapter meetings to participate in an upcoming social event. These events range from everything to a party at a nightclub in Ybor to a roller-skating social, or even a “surprise social” where the destination is kept secret until everyone arrives!

Tradition is a word that takes on an even deeper meaning when applied to the fraternity or sorority itself. All Greek groups at USF pride themselves on having individual traditions that many times span over a century. Greeks share a special bond with their brothers and sisters known as ritual. Ritual° is the word used to describe a private ceremony that is performed to initiate new members into the chapter. Although shown many times in movies and television to be a harsh and abusive hazing event, ritual is actually a very serious ceremony that teaches the deep meanings of the organization. This most often includes the secret meanings of the letters, coat-of-arms, symbols, and sometimes even secret handshakes or knocks for the group.

By going through membership recruitment and joining a fraternity or sorority, a student is given the opportunity to participate in any number of traditions and even help create new ones. It is tradition that binds the members to their organization, it is tradition that binds the groups together internationally, and it is tradition that makes the Greek system the best choice for students looking for fun, friendship, scholarship, and service to the community.

(Above) Did this really happen? Only during Skit Day - a USF Greek tradition for Greek Week. Organizations take turns performing entertaining skits, vying for first prize.

(Left) A tradition in the making! USF Greeks today celebrate with USF President Judy Genshaft during her Feburary 2001 Inaugural.