Greek Week changes format

Greek Week 2003 kicks off today with a blood drive for the American Red Cross as part of the week's festivities, which coincide with Homecoming.\nThe celebration, "Greekstock '03: Five Days of Greeks and Music," is planned in conjunction with Homecoming this year to promote stronger participation from the greek community, said Rebecca Neale, vice president of programming for the Panhellenic Association.\nShe said last year the events were held the week before Homecoming, and many chapters couldn't devote enough time to attend all the events over the two-week period.\n"It was a positive change for the greek and IU communities," Neale said. "The events are greek-sponsored, but they benefit the whole community. With people coming back to campus for Homecoming, we wanted to get as many people involved as possible."\nThe blood drive will be held from noon to 5 p.m. at the Main Library and at the Gresham Food Court in Foster Quad. Blood donations will be tallied from each greek chapter.\nA co-ed flag football tournament will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at "The Tundra" on North Jordan Avenue, a field located behind Kappa Delta and Sigma Nu fraternity. \nNappy Roots also will be coming to Bloomington for a concert from 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday at Pic-A-Chic Farms. The event is not a specific Greek Week event since it is open to the general public for $20. Shuttles will provide students transportation at Third Street, North Jordan Avenue, Kilroy's, 502 Kirkwood Ave., and Kilroy's Sports, 319 N. Walnut St.\nThursday, the greek community will host a barbecue from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the IU Field House parking lot off of Fee Lane. After the event, the IU Alumni Association will host the annual "Yell Like Hell" pep rally at Assembly Hall.\nThe week culminates in the "Greekstock Finale Concert," which is open to the public. Natty Nation, Run of the Mill and Blue Moon Revue will play from 7 to 11 p.m. on Kirkwood Avenue between Dunn Street and Indiana Avenue, immediately following the IUAA's parade.\nRyon Wolski, vice president of community programs at the Intrafraternity Council, said he looks forward to the events.\n"Our hope is that joining these weeks together will result in a drastic increase in student involvement for both sets of events," he said in a news release.\nNeale said Greek Week is a national even that has evolved from a leadership conference into more of a philanthropy.\n"A lot of times greeks get a bad rap for being involved in things that are seen as negative," she said. "Greek week is an opportunity to promote positive things about our community."\nShe said she hopes this year's event "ups the stakes" for other universities to follow.\n-- Contact campus editor Ben Cunningham at bacunnin@indiana.edu.