Sorority Life At Florida Gulf Coast University | Sisterhood ...

Panhellenic Council at Florida Gulf Coast Universities Hosts a Backyard BBQ

Backyard BBQ at school?

I never thought cowgirl boots combined with line dancing and fun would ever take place at Florida Gulf Coast Universities campus until now.

On Nov. 5 FGCU’s Panhellenic Council put on a Backyard BBQ for girls on campus to come out and see what it is like to be involved in the community.

“We worked really hard on this event and this semester trying to bring everyone together for one last event where everyone can be involved,” Lauren Perez, President of Panhellenic said. “It was fun to see all of the girls from different organizations get together and have a good time.”

FGCU’s Panhellenic Council is made up of six different sororities. There were members from Chi Omega, Kappa Delta, Delta Delta Delta, Zeta Tau Alpha, Phi Mu and Alpha Chi Omega at the event.

The BBQ was held at the Veteran’s Pavilion on campus, which is right in front of the library. The crowd was a mixture of over 200 girls in colorful dresses and girls in their unique stitched letters. I was among all of these women and their peers.

The number one thing I noticed was that girls involved in every organization were socializing with each other. It was extremely empowering to look around and see a bunch of woman who have impacted our community is such a positive way getting together and having a good time enjoying BBQ food and line dancing.

Alyssa Gdanski is a four year member of Kappa Delta who was eager and excited to attend the event.

“I have never been to campus for line dancing before,” Gdanski said. “Getting to know other sisters in the Panhellenic community is fun and what better way to do it than this.”

Dixie Roadhouse House line dancing lessons were giving to anyone in attendance. A majority of the crowd participated on the lawn by learning the unique dance moves to iconic country songs by singers such as Luke Bryan and Taylor Swift.

“I always wanted to attend a Panhellenic event because I have heard that they are well planned, but when my friends told me about this one I knew it I had to go to it,” Gdanski said. “I am so happy I did because it was a blast.”

Girls who didn’t pick up on the dance moves were given advice from girls who are comfortable with country line dancing and other girls in organizations who knew the steps. It looked just as difficult as it sounds in my opinion.

Ali Austin is a charter member of Phi Mu on campus who went to the event even though she didn’t own cowgirl boots.

“I honestly felt like I didn’t know what I was doing because they move so fast and I was in sandals,” Austin said. “It wasn’t until another girl in a different organization saw me struggling and offered to help me out that I fully understood what I was supposed to be doing.”

Girls from every organization and on campus were encouraged to attend and were bribed with food.

“I went to the BBQ with girls that are in different organizations than me to get the food and meet new girls,” Austin said. “It is nice to be surrounded by the greek community for once because I feel like I always focus a lot of my attention and time with Phi Mu.”

Amber Schwartz is a member of Alpha Chi Omega, which is the newest sorority on campus as of fall 2015.

“I really love country music, line dancing and my new sisters,” Schwartz said. “It reminded me that I joined Alpha Chi Omega for many different reasons. One reason was to be involved in the greek community on campus because of all the amazing work they do separately and together.”

Line dancing is extremely difficult for those that have never tried it. Trying to remember the certain steps to the music isn’t as easy as 1,2,3.

As I looked over the crowd, I noticed a bunch of young woman smiling, laughing and having an overall good time. That to me was the most important aspect because it showed how each and every one of those woman live to embody their organizations ideals of creating a strong sisterhood.

“I heard someone say no matter the letters we are all together, and I think that quote really stands true for our Panhellenic community here at FGCU and for greek life all over the country,” Schwartz said. “I am always proud to be involved and a part of something so amazing.”

“It was an honor being President this year,” Perez said. “We really have amazing organizations with incredible young woman on campus that we should all be proud of.”