A Glimpse into Greek Life
Each semester begins with the whirlwind of new classes, new schedules, and particularly, Greek week. During the second week of the semester, Greek clubs across campus prepare for Thursday’s Tap Night, followed by induction weekend.
On Thursday Aug. 25, new members were selected to join Greek clubs for the weekend and experience the lessons and heart of the clubs.
“[Tap night] is kind of a really exciting night where we all come together and celebrate these new members,” said Cassidy Rogers, senior discipleship major and chaplain of Sigma Nu Sigma. “They've been working really hard and making these relationships. And we get to celebrate with them, because we're finally getting the chance to bring them in, and all this wonderful stuff that they think they know about that they're not even scratching the surface.”
For Lee students outside of Greek life, terms such as Tap Night and induction may seem foreign. Each club, however, has its own way of defining what makes their community special to them.
Lee University Greek life began in 1962 with the inception of the men’s club Upsilon Xi, and the first girl’s club was Delta Zeta Tau, founded in 1964.
Other Greek clubs strive to make Tap Night special to not only new and current members, but also their alumni.
“I think the most special thing is how we always strive to include our alumni! We make sure as we work to bring in the new girls, we are remembering what our club was founded on and all the incredible women that helped shape Omega into the club that it is today,” said Abby Briggs, senior communications advertising major and president of Omega Alpha Phi.
Duane Pace, sponsor and alumni of Alpha Gamma Chi, stressed the importance of Tap Night for the legacy of the club and their network of alumni: “Tap Night is the most important night for Chi because it is when we build the future of our club.”
While many Lee Greek clubs are rich in history, newer clubs are beginning a legacy of their own.
“The other taps and I were both excited and scared [last year], for we knew that the entirety of Lee’s Greek Life would be watching us due to the fact that this was the first tap of a new club,” said Emma Fulsom, junior exercise science major and secretary of Phi Chi Gamma.
Phi Chi Gamma was founded in 2021 and has felt the greater Greek life community embrace them into Lee’s legacy of clubs. This semester, the club officially tapped its second group of members.
“This year we feel more prepared,” said Hannah Grace Broome, senior middle grades education major and president of Phi Chi Gamma. “We have an amazing group of girls.”
For other clubs, Tap Night is the pinnacle of a semester of planning and praying over new members.
“Being president has shown me a lot about planning and the process. It has given me a sense of fulfillment and firsthand experience to see what goes into leading a group of guys and seeing it pay off in the end,” said Ruben Lavariega, senior accounting major and president of Pi Kappa Pi.
Greek clubs at Lee are sure to center their focus during Greek week on Christ and the scriptural foundation of their club.
Sergio Bran, senior marketing major and chaplain of Theta Delta Kappa, is “excited to get to know guys and to help them grow in the Lord and have a sense of community.”
After each club has tapped their new members, each club journeys to the Deacon Jones Dining Hall where they begin tapping auxiliary members. This event is a fan favorite among a majority of Greek life.
“I am excited about seeing tap sisters get into auxiliary clubs,” said Kamryn Osborne, sophomore graphic design major and public relations chair of Epsilon Lambda Phi.
Auxiliary members are men and women in clubs of the opposite gender. Each club has little sisters or big brothers to help facilitate a healthy and exhilarating community throughout the semester.
Lake Shamblin, senior business administration major and member of Upsilon Xi, reiterated the unified anticipation, “My favorite part of tap night is getting to tap the auxiliary members in the Caf.”
“As an [auxillary] member you are there to love and support all the people you are in the club with. You are there as an encouragement in whatever they need,” said Emily Smith, junior nursing major and member of Theta Delta Kappa.
Photo by photographer Raylee Evans.
Students can be involved in both men and women clubs and participate in the legacies and communities of both clubs.
“I love that I am able to join guys for their traditions, and being president of DZT, I get to lead,” said Hannah Hawkins, senior healthcare administration major, president of Delta Zeta Tau and Alpha Gamma Chi Perfect 10. “Tap night is one of those occasions where I can bounce back and forth.”
Members from other clubs join together to honor their auxiliary members and exemplify unity among strikingly different clubs.
“Tap night is a night filled with tradition and it is a special night where all of the Greek Clubs get together to support each other as a community,” said Sam Felton, senior president of Tau Kappa Omega.
Miranda Phillips, senior TESOL and Spanish major and member of Epsilon Lambda Phi, said, “It’s really fun to see all the members be so in sync and unified.”
When the excitement from Tap Night across campus settles, Greek clubs are just beginning their weekend.
Inductees are swept away to induction by their respective club, where they begin to discover the heart of the club. While most Greek life inductions are top secret, their focus is clear: Christ-centered community.
“As chaplain, this whole induction process is more than getting to know the club, like that's so important, and we want you to have this community. But more than that, we want you to understand that there is a God that loves you unconditionally,” said Rogers.
For many members of Greek life, the impact of induction stretches beyond their expectation at the beginning of their journey.
“I love to see all of my brothers here ready to welcome new members. Chi changed my life and I am excited to see it change the life of others,” said Micah Grow, member of Alpha Gamma Chi.
New members create a lasting community within the first few hours of induction: “I am excited to see . . . people they don’t know become their best friends at the end of the weekend,” said Jocelynn Bonilla, junior public relations major and member of Delta Zeta Tau.
Greek clubs also establish monumental relationships between new and old members. Phillips said, “The most special thing to me about tap night is when we get to tell the bigs who their littles are. We all get to cheer each other on for our excitement for the new girls.”
At the conclusion of induction, new members are fully welcomed into the embrace of the club. They have learned the hard-taught lessons of the group and its community.
“This weekend is going to be fun because we get to know all of the new girls and it is a wonderful time to bond as a family,” said Hopper Coley, senior youth ministry major and member of Phi Chi Gamma.
Tap Night and induction may be challenging to understand for students new to Greek life at Lee, but many students attest it is worth the journey.
“If you are, or if anyone is thinking about a Greek club. . . meet the people and see about it. And if you're not thinking about Sigma, or any other Greek life, and you're just kind of curious about it, get to know the people,” Rogers said. “Because you don't have to be in the club to see the heart of a club . . . it's a community even outside of the name.”
For more photos of Tap Night, visit leeclarion.com.
