Sororities will celebrate the rituals of their individual organizations this week through discussions and activities.
The third annual National Ritual Celebration Week starts on Sunday and will run through March 9.
The Panhellenic Council gave out packets to chapter presidents and delegates with ideas for events, discussions and activities they can use for their own chapters to help plan out the week of celebration, according to Zoë Thorpe, a marketing junior and president of the Panhellenic Council.
“I think the most important thing to keep in mind is that you don’t only have to celebrate ritual through an organization but you can celebrate it as an individual, and how you believe in your rituals and how you take on your values and portray that in your individual sorority’s rituals,” Thorpe said.
The week will include National Panhellenic Conference International Badge Day on Monday, according to a Phi Mu fraternity’s press release. The day is meant for members of sororities to wear their badges symbolizing pride in their chapter.
The events taking place throughout the week within sororities will be discussions and activities to “raise awareness of the importance of ritual and allow members to reflect personally on their organization’s ritual while embracing the ritual of other inter fraternal organizations,” according to the release.
Fraternities are not participating in the National Ritual Celebration week due to a busy semester, said Jeremy Zilmer, coordinator of fraternity and sorority programs in an email interview.
“Our governing councils (IFC, Panhellenic Council, United Fraternity and Sorority Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council) try to be cognizant about not over programming their individual chapters,” Zilmer said. “Each semester tends to be busy with various programs and events, so unfortunately, sometimes our councils have to pick and choose with what events they host during the semester.”
Thorpe said that on Tuesday, Panhellenic sororities will be supporting the fraternity Sigma Lambda Beta by going to their percentage night at the Cellar Bistro, in order to celebrate Greek Life and promoting their fraternity, as well as rituals practiced within each organization.
“The ritual week is a chance for each organization to express why their individual organization is unique and why it is so special,” said Ashley Lovich, an education sophomore and president of Sigma Kappa sorority. “We get a chance to kind of look back and realize why we’re here and what our founders have done to get us to the point we are at today.”
Lovich also said the week is more of a time for members to reflect on themselves and appreciate the history of where their sorority comes from and what it represents. She said the rituals each chapter practice are private so it’s not really about advocating the significance of their individual sorority or fraternity and more about the bond that is being strengthened between each member in a chapter.
“I’m excited that we get to celebrate our ritual because it’s something that makes us unique,” Lovich said. “It’s just a chance for each individual organization to feel pride for itself and to remember what makes us different, what makes us unique, how we’re bonded together.”
