Religious members of the Greek Life community have an opportunity to express their faith with their peers through a new organization on campus.
Greek Venture is a club that allows students to discuss both religion and their association with the greek community. The group meets every other Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Coyote Room of Park Student Union.
“”I think it’s a great place where women and men from different houses can come together and connect on a spiritual basis,”” said Julia Saad, a math junior who founded the club.
Saad has been a member of the Chi Omega sorority since her freshman year.
“”It’s important to remember that you can bring into Greek Life who you are,”” she said.
A different greek bible study group was on campus a few years ago but is no longer in existence, Saad said.
“”Greek Life is really important to me and so is my faith,”” she said.
Saad said she wanted to have a group where students involved with Greek Life could discuss ideas about their faith and how it applies to their lives.
Greek Venture is part of Cru at UA, a Christian organization on campus that has chapters internationally as part of Campus Crusade for Christ. Cru at UA is a Christian organization, but people from all faiths are welcome to attend.
Cru at UA meets weekly at 7:30 p.m. in Koffler 218 and has about 80 members.
Greek Venture is a smaller community group of Cru at UA that is intended for members of the greek community and has about 17 members so far.
Greek Venture has been meeting since the start of fall semester. A typical meeting starts with an icebreaker question, Saad said. Then the group studies a verse from the Bible and discusses how it relates to the individual students, the UA campus and Greek Life.
Andrea Cabrillos is a staff member with Cru at UA. Cabrillos said other campuses have religion-oriented greek movements and members of Cru’s regional office suggested UA start one as well.
“”It’s such a large population on campus,”” she said. “”They have a huge influence on campus.””
Saad and Cabrillos started discussing how the greek system works and brainstorming ideas for the club last semester.
“”Our hope is that we would be a place for people who want to know more about religion and figure out what they believe,”” she said. “”Whatever they need we want to be there for them.””
Saad hopes to eventually have members of every sorority and fraternity involved in Greek Venture.
“”I think that faith and spirituality is a really big question for people in college and out of college,”” she said. “”It’s a place for people to have a dialogue and bring questions if they have them.””
Saad said the greek community sometimes has a bad reputation, but it is important to remember they also positively influence many areas of campus.
“”I think it’s just understanding that I bring my faith with me no matter what I get involved with,”” she said.
