Graig MantleThe Cal Poly greek community worked together Sunday to improve the image of their organizations while cleaning up a few busy streets near the Cal Poly campus.
The Panhellenic Association, Interfraternity Council and the Cultural Greek Council came together to pick up trash and beautify Hathway Avenue from California Boulevard to Foothill Boulevard.
“The event helps us give back to our community and improve the image of greek life in San Luis Obispo,” said Cora Nemanic, a food science and nutrition sophomore and Alpha Chi Omega member.
Associated Students Inc. helped organize the event and hosted a barbecue for the volunteers after the cleanup was done.
“ASI presented the idea to Panhellenic, IFC and the CGC asking for us to support the cleanup,” said Jessica Murison, crop science junior and vice president of finance for the Panhellenic Association.
Students from every sorority and fraternity on campus volunteered at the event, which had a goal to complete over 400 hours of community service.
“We try to do at least one all greek community service event per quarter to help make a positive impact in San Luis Obispo,” said Courtney Sterk, journalism junior and Alpha Chi Omega member. “It is fun to participate. We get to socialize and have a good time while making a difference.”
As part of their participation as chapters on campus, all sororities and fraternities partake in their own philanthropic events. However, the Hathway cleanup was not affiliated with any one fraternity or sorority.
This is the first cleanup event to take place on Hathway Avenue, which is littered with plastic cups, beer bottles and trash from student parties and heavy traffic. However, there have been similar events put on by the greek councils. At the end of Greek Week every year, all of the sororities and fraternities participate in a campus cleanup similar to Sunday’s event.
The volunteering was fueled by the support of those active in the greek community who are bothered by the stereotypical view of fraternities and sororities.
“Naturally, people assume that greek life has a bad reputation,” said Brad Huge, a business sophomore and Delta Sigma Phi member.
“With the older community in the area, there is an especially bad reputation,” said Logan Schaub, a civil engineering freshman and Delta Sigma Phi member.
Many participants saw the cleanup as a way to prove to the community that those involved in greek life care about San Luis Obispo.
“We want the community to know that we are not just here to party,” said Kris Parise, an agricultural business freshman and Lambda Chi Alpha member.
“This helps to improve community relations and shows that college students have responsibility for their actions,” Murison said.
The cleanup started at noon and, in large part to the big turnout of volunteers, lasted about an hour.
Many members were required to attend the event because some fraternities and sororities were charging absent members small fines.
“We hope the cleanup will send the message that students across the campus community can come together for events outside of partying,” said Shawn Stevens of the Interfraternity Council.