Glow necklaces, beach balls and giant cardboard Greek letters were sprinkled throughout a frenzied Auditorium on Monday as hundreds of MSU fraternity and sorority members kicked off Greek Week 2005 at MTV Night, a choreographed dance contest.
"It's just crazy," human biology junior Dianna Vollmer shouted as teal-clad members of her Alpha Chi Omega sorority clapped, chanted and whistled behind her. "It brings us all together."
The team of Sigma Kappa, Tau Kappa Epsilon and Alpha Sigma Phi kicked the night off in front of the rock concert atmosphere, dancing slowly to "Final Countdown" before dribbling basketballs around the stage to recreate a Nike commercial.
Teams comprised of a sorority, large fraternity and small fraternity will compete at events throughout the week based on their performance and how many of their chapters' members attend.
All proceeds from the week's events go to charity.
"It's good for the community and the competition's good for us," said Kate Powers, an interdisciplinary studies in social science senior and Greek Week director. "Everyone wants to win, but we're all coming together to help."
Last year's Greek Week festivities brought in about $125,000, which was donated to the American Cancer Society, Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Special Olympics.
Powers said this year's boosted goal of $150,000 is within reach because almost $75,000 was raised from the greek community's Relay for Life event about two weeks ago.
The money raised by MSU greeks this year also will benefit three additional charities - Ronald McDonald House Charities, which provides a temporary home for families with sick children; Ele's Place, a support group for children who have lost a friend or family member; and the Community Relations Coalition, which works to build relationships between East Lansing and MSU communities.
Marcia Van Ness, president of the Community Relations Coalition, said MSU greeks have been an integral part of the coalition by providing volunteers and serving on its board.
Van Ness said donations from Greek Week will be used to expand the coalition's programs, including one where MSU students who live in East Lansing perform services such as creating clean-up programs and landscaping public buildings.
The week will continue today with Bob Simon, a long-time reporter for "60 Minutes," speaking at 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium. Powers said she hopes there will be a broad appeal for Simon, who has covered international conflicts from Vietnam to the Persian Gulf during his Emmy-winning career.
"We're hoping the whole community comes out," Powers said.
At 7 p.m. Wednesday, the competition will get amped up when the teams take part in a Battle of the Bands in the Auditorium.
Jim Howard, a human biology senior and Alpha Tau Omega's Greek Week chairman, will compete for the second consecutive year.
"People really don't understand how much work goes into it behind the scenes to get college students who have jobs and lives and classes to get together and rehearse," Howard said.
The week will conclude Saturday with Songfest, a song and dance contest at the Auditorium. The money raised throughout the week will be presented to the charities, and the week's winning team will be crowned.
Riyad Palia, a telecommunication, information studies and media junior and Pi Kappa Phi president, said the week can get intense as the teams compete for bragging rights, but its most lasting impact is the unity it offers the greek community.
"I can see people getting into the competition during the events, but everyone's shaking hands after that," Palia said. "If we're going to grow as a greek community, we have to work together."
