Black Greek Week, an annual week of community service and entertainment events performed by fraternities and sororities of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, begins today.

The council consists of eight historically black greek-letter organizations.

All students are invited to attend the events.

Today, students will go to the Lansing City Rescue Mission's Mission Free Store, 1515 South Cedar St. in Lansing, and volunteer their time at the Mission's Free Store from 6-8 p.m.

Tuesday from 8-10 p.m. in Holden Hall, students can learn what it means to be a black greek during a symposium featuring current members of the fraternities and sororities.

Students are invited to a discussion about sex and health problems in the minority community Wednesday night in Akers Hall Auditorium.

On Thursday, high school students from Detroit will walk a day in a college student's shoes during a campus visit sponsored by the council.

Later that evening, Chuck Pottinger of the Lansing Lupus Association will speak to students about the effects of lupus in the black community.

For the first time, the greeks will play members of the Fourth Greek Independent Council in an annual Softball Clash from 5-8 p.m. Friday at IM Sports-East.

The council's annual awards banquet will be held Sunday evening. Admission is free.

For information on Black Greek Week events, e-mail nphcmsu@msu.edu, or visit www.msu.edu/~nphcmsu.