The freshmen at Stevens might be considered the most targeted students on campus. As the newest members of the Stevens community, they are willing to participate in all types of events, from pre-orientation city escapades and outdoor adventures to inter-dormitory dodgeball tournaments. It is no surprise that over 300 freshman students were recruited to participate in the annual Hall Brawls event, a campus-wide clash between the freshman dormitories sponsored jointly by the Sigma Phi Epsilon (Sig Ep) fraternity and the Delta Phi Epsilon (DPhiE) sorority.
Sig Ep holds Hall Brawls annually, and the $10 participation fee benefits its national philanthropy called Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America. This organization connects children from all around the country with adults in an effort to build long, lasting relationships. Much of the organization’s philanthropic ideas correlate to Sig Ep’s own values. Sig Ep brother Vincent Raimondi has been involved in Hall Brawls since his freshman year, and firmly believes that this event does more than raise money for a good cause. “[Hall Brawls] builds good relationships between the freshmen, their RAs, and the Greek community.”
Over 300 freshmen students partook in Hall Brawls, which constitutes approximately 40% of the freshman class. Those who participated stayed together with their dormitory floors and competed in daring physical pursuits, including tug-o-war, volleyball, an egg race, and Ultimate Frisbee.
Delta Phi Epsilon, Sig Ep’s sister sorority, was not involved in much of the planning but was, as Raimondi stated, “an integral part of Hall Brawls.” According to DPhiE sister Julia Guignard, the sorority was responsible for the behind-the-scenes action. The sisters committed themselves to publicizing the event through table-sitting, dorm-storming, and spreading the word.
Sig Ep brothers and DPhiE sisters were spread amongst the various lawns of Stevens campus, helping mediate the competitions or supporting their sorority-fraternity counterparts. WCPR provided their musical services, adding a fun component to what was an organized and efficiently-run event. “Last year, the weather wasn’t the greatest,” commented Raimondi. “It’s a beautiful day, and it helps make the event run much smoother.”
The sorority and fraternity stressed that participation was a reward within itself; however, the floors that proved their physical prowess in the various games had the chance to compete against a team made of solely Sig Ep brothers.
Who were the mighty victors of Hall Brawls? First place went to the fourth floor residents of Hayden Hall, second place to second floor Davis Hall residents, and four floors tied for third place, according to Sig Ep brother Cristian Collado.
Sigma Phi Epsilon and Delta Phi Epsilon represent just one-eighth of the Greek life on Stevens campus. Thea Zunick, Associate Director of Student Life, noted that Greeks are responsible for much of the student activity at Stevens. “A lot goes on each week. I’d say Greek organizations sponsor anywhere between 60-70% of events on campus.”
The 16 fraternities and sororities that make up Stevens Greek Life contribute much to the Stevens community. Zunick, as well as the Greek organizations themselves, is looking forward to the upcoming months which will be filled with events targeted to bring all members of Stevens together.
