Instead of decking the halls this week, Western Illinois University’s fraternities and sororities brought the holiday spirit outside for their Holiday Light Show.
On Monday, 13 Greek chapters added a little cheer to Adams Street, Wigwam Hollow and at other Greek house locations. From 6 to 9 p.m., visitors drove past the light-covered houses and judged the displays. The tour began at the Pi Kappa Alpha house, located at 812 Wigwam Hollow Rd., and afterwards, participants went to Café Aroma for some hot chocolate.
Macomb, Ill. — Competition between Western Illinois University’s five traditional sororities is in full swing this week (Oct. 24-28) to raise funds for Huntsman Cancer Institute and for Sigma Chi Foundation’s scholarship and leadership programs.
Western’s Iota Omicron chapter of Sigma Chi Fraternity hosts the annual charity fundraiser, known as Derby Days. The WIU chapter will donate 90 percent of the funds raised to the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, a cancer care and research center, and 10 percent to the national Sigma Chi Foundation.
Big Pink Volleyball for 2011 had a tremendous turn out with a total of 234 teams and total money raised coming out to around $5,000. The teams were divided into five brackets including Faculty Staff, Greek, Residence Halls, Club/Organization and Independent.
Over four days of elimination play, teams swarmed onto the courts of the Donald S. Spencer Student Recreation Center. The winners of each bracket were as follows:
Faculty/Staff: Ruled with SDO, Greek: Sigma Chi, Residence Halls: Mama Shi Shi, Club/Organization: CSS and the Independent: Cranial Cramps.
Sigma Chi, winner of best fraternity at WIU, strives to network its members within both campus and Macomb community, develop fundamental strategies for the real world, while making memories that will last.
Sigma Chi annually hosts a philanthropy called Derby Days, a weeklong competition between the sororities on campus, which raises money for Children's Miracle Network and Huntsman Cancer Institute.
Last semester, the Sigma Chi's raised more than $1,200, all of which went to these charities. Along with donating to their philanthropy, Sigma Chi tries to get involved with the other Greek philanthropies and any community or campus events that they can.
"I believe students voted us top fraternity because we strive to be just that," said President William Steele, "We're a values-based organization and that's what we show. We're very involved all over campus, we donate or attend every charity fundraiser we can, we're respectful toward Greeks and non-Greeks alike and our house is still a fun place to hang out on the weekends."
Students gathered in Sherman Circle last Thursday through Saturday to participate in "Trick the Town," an annual food drive and prelude to "Stuff the Bus."These two events, which were sponsored by Sodexo, were set up to collect food for impoverished residents of Macomb and the surrounding area. This food is then distributed by Loaves Fishes and the Black Student Association.
Loaves and Fishes provides food for the needy, regardless of their income, while the Black Student Association provides traditional Thanksgiving meals, including sides and desserts, for those that are not usually able to enjoy them. This is the third year for Stuff the Bus, and second year for Trick the Town.
The 51st annual Miss Macomb Scholarship Pageant was held Sunday night at the Macomb High School Fellheimer Auditorium. This year’s event included six contestants vying for the title of Miss Macomb 2010.
Featured at this year’s pageant were Miss Macomb 2009, Jennifer Witkowski, and Miss Illinois 2009, Erin O’Connor. Also appearing in the show were emcee, Rick Bulger, Ali Nicole Browning, Miss Macomb / Miss Illinois Princess 2009, Sadee Anselment and Miss Macomb 2007, Jillian Weingart.
A record-setting Big Pink turnout is good news in the fight against breast cancer.The Western Illinois University community bumped, jumped and spiked this past week at the 10th annual Big Pink Volleyball tournament.
More than 200 teams gathered at the Donald S. Spencer Student Recreation Center with pink everywhere in sight, showing support for breast cancer awareness.
Paper, pens, rulers, calculators and so many other school supplies can really add up in cost. For families with limited income, this can pose a real problem. To combat these costs, the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council raised school supplies for Macomb children in need throughout March and April.
The two Greek councils raised more than $950 worth of school supplies, which will go to children at Lincoln Elementary School and Edison Elementary School.
Macomb, Ill. — Wesley Village Retirement Community director of marketing Kim Daudelin and a handful of fraternity members from Western Illinois University's Sigma Chi brotherhood gathered in the cold Tuesday afternoon to begin setting up 220 Christmas trees.
"Lights of Love," Wesley Village's annual Christmas fundraising campaign, allows individuals to donate $100 and sponsor one of the lighted Christmas trees that will line the front driveway, walking path and garden area. Sponsors may designate a name to appear on a plaque next the tree.
Charles Gilbert's role in Western's Sigma Chi chapter has won him the honor of joining the "The Order of Constantine"
Being a member of a fraternity can be an integral part of one's college career. For Charles Gilbert it has been part of most of his life. This summer Gilbert will be honored by Sigma Chi with an induction into "The Order of Constantine" - the highest honor the national fraternity gives.
Gilbert began his relationship with Sigma Chi when he was initiated in 1961 as an undergraduate at George Washington University. According to Eric Myers, Sigma Chi president at Western Illinois University, Gilbert is worthy of the award because he has been a loyal Sig and an active contributor for much of his life.
