With the largest Greek system in the nation, it’s rare to walk to class and not see someone decked out in their letters, talking about the latest event in their fraternity or sorority. But despite all the individual happenings of the Greek system, it isn’t every day that all four Greek councils join together to show the campus what they truly represent.

Enter Greek Week, a weeklong competition that started on Sunday between fraternities and sororities and celebration of all things Greek.

“It highlights what we stand for as Greek organizations,” said Elise Moore, vice president of internal programming for the Panhellenic Council. “Also, it shows campus and the rest of the world, I guess, kind of what we’re all about and what we’re doing.”

A long-standing tradition, Greek Week takes place on most campuses with a Greek presence, from the University of California “Los Angeles to the University of Florida. But each campus plans its own activities, events and dates for the competition.

This year, the University’s Greek Week consists of events such as a 5K Run and Concert Barbecue, a Step and Stroll Clinic, the annual Greek God and Goddess Pageant and a carnival to help support the Champaign County chapter of Big Brothers, Big Sisters.

Each fraternity or sorority gets points depending on participation within the various events, and a winner is selected from each council at the end of the week. Each winner will receive money to be put toward its chapter’s philanthropy.

Moore, senior in FAA, was one of the main event organizers, along with representatives from the other three councils on campus: Black Greek Council, Interfraternity Council and United Greek Council. An advisor from Fraternity and Sorority Affairs also assists in helping organize the week.

But planning an event for such a large audience doesn’t come without challenges.

“Getting the word out was a major challenge,” Moore said. “Getting people to actually come out to the events. I feel like especially in the Greek community, everyone is so busy, and they’ve got so much going on with their individual chapter and the other clubs their involved in. I think it’s hard to sell Greek Week as something that is worth your time.”

But that wasn’t the only issue.

“You have to decide what are the best activities to unite and do something for everyone,” added Manuel Colon, vice president of external affairs for the United Greek Council and another main organizer of the event. “It’s hard to bring everyone together and keep everyone focused.”

Another obstacle was the diversity of the councils themselves and the blending of leadership. Even the size of different chapters varied greatly, as some had up to 180 members while others had less than 10.

“It’s difficult taking all these things into account, but we try to look at the root of what does make us similar,” Moore said. “All Greek organizations are based on having shared values. Brotherhood and sisterhood is a big thing. Service and philanthropy is a big thing, so that kind of stuff is what ties us together.”

Yet Greek Week isn’t only for Greeks.

“For all of Greek Week you don’t really need to be Greek at all,” Moore said. “By coming to the events, you’re just showing that you support the Greek community. We wanted to open it up to everyone. If we’re going to put in all this effort to plan these events, anyone who wants to come can come.”

Moore added the Illini Union Board cosponsored an outdoor concert that was part of the week’s barbecue, which helped draw a larger, more diverse audience.

“I love the saying ‘We don’t let three letters and two colors divide us,'” Colon said. “Working and coming together during Greek Week is something we need to do, not only to prove it to ourselves, but also to our communities. It shows that inside perspective and opens people up to new experiences in Greek life.”

Another reason to participate in Greek Week is to gain new insight on the stereotypes that seem to follow the system around, said Royel Johnson, vice president of external relations for the Black Greek Council and another event organizer.

“It allows people to see a different side of Greek life than what’s traditionally shown,” Johnson said. “A lot of people also look at Greeks as the leaders of campus, so it gives them a chance to get involved.”

But this is college. Students have a lot going on in the middle of the semester, so participation numbers often depend on scheduling.

“I’d like to say that I’m going to participate in all of the events, but realistically, I just can’t go to everything,” said Sean Wunderlich, senior in FAA and the social chair for Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. “Class is a priority.”

No matter who you are, Greek or non-Greek, Greek Week events have the ability to do a lot more than provide an alternative to studying.

“I think it has the potential to bring the entire campus together,” Wunderlich said. “It’s not as big here as at other schools, but it has a lot of potential. I think the leaders have done a great job making it a larger presence on campus over the past couple of years. I think there’s a lot of room for it to grow, but that’s obviously not going to happen overnight.”