A student-run publication that highlights the achievements of the greek community debuted at George Washington University last week. GreekSpeak will be distributed twice this semester, with more frequent editions appearing in fall 2005. It will be available both in print and online.
The publication was designed to inform the broader GW community about fraternity and sorority life.
"The publication is designed to promote Greek accomplishments to the GW community, not just Greeks," Courtney Barry, GW's coordinator for greek affairs, wrote in an e-mail.
Currently, GW has 31 recognized Greek-letter chapters: 12 Inter-Fraternity Council chapters, eight Panhellenic Association chapters and 11 multicultural chapters.
Ashley Quinn, GW's student coordinator for greek life, is the editor of GreekSpeak. The publication also has an editorial board of four students in the greek community who were selected through an application process.
"Other members of the Greek community will help with editing, photography, layout, and writing," Barry said. "At least 12 [fraternity and sorority] chapters have submitted names of journalists who will submit articles in the upcoming publications."
Articles may cover any topic a student wishes but must be approved by the Office of Greek Life before being published, Barry said.
Kate Dierker, a member of Alpha Delta Phi at GW, said the publication is a step in the right direction in greek life coverage.
"I think it's important that the greek community be seen and heard at GW as well as at other colleges because they are involved in a lot of worthy causes and need the support of the rest of the student body as well," Dierker said.
American University greeks are planning a publication similar to GreekSpeak, according to Danny Kelley, AU coordinator of greek life.
"AU Greeks are in the process of creating a Greek newsletter that will be distributed to faculty, staff, and students and will also be downloadable at Today@AU," Kelley wrote in an e-mail. "This publication will highlight success stories of individual chapter members, chapters, and the Greek councils."
The AU publication will debut some time next month and will include information about AU's 22 Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic organizations.
A publication like GW's GreekSpeak is a way for greeks to be more vocal on campus, Kelley said.
"It provides an opportunity for greeks to talk about the positive activities they are engaging in and can dispel some of the negative greek stereotypes," he said. "It definitely can serve as a vehicle to provide information to the campus community regarding the benefits of greek life."
Mara Theophila, who is pledging a sorority at AU, said she thought the media portray greek life as a negative aspect of college life.
"I picked up a book at Barnes and Noble during spring break called 'Pledged,' and it described sororities as cults ridden with emotional disorders," Theophila said. "Any kind of look at AU's greek life would prove this stereotype is far from reality here."
Staff Writer Elliot Smilowitz contributed to this article.
