After only two weeks on the job as assistant director of the Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Leadership, Francisco Lugo already finds himself knee-deep in work to do.
Lugo was selected to conceptualize, plan and execute the 175th anniversary celebration of fraternal life at Miami University.
The anniversary falls on the 175th birthday of Miami's first Greek organization, Alpha Delta Phi, which was colonized in Oxford in 1833. As the plans stand now, Lugo plans to conduct the celebration as what he termed a "reunion weekend" from June 12-15, 2008.
Lugo hopes that, along with Greek leadership, organizations-such as the Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council and National Panhellenic Council-and current Miami sorority and fraternity members will return to Oxford, along with alumni throughout the country, to commemorate Miami's rich Greek history and tradition.
"President (Hodge) talked about Miami becoming the premiere Greek model for the nation," Lugo said. "We're hoping to highlight that goal with the 175th anniversary celebration."
One of the ways Lugo plans to accent Hodge's remarks is by getting current Greek students excited about the upcoming event. He plans to start publicizing the event during Greek convocation, which will take place Jan. 31, with hopes that individual Greek organizations will carry the message, not only back to their chapters, but also to prospective Greeks coming through those chapters during rush.
Lugo hopes to culminate public relations efforts with a single day during spring semester of 2007, on which all Greeks will wear the same T-shirt, created during a T-shirt design contest featuring and advertising the 175th anniversary celebration. For Lugo, and he hopes for the Miami community, this will show just how important and sizeable the Greek presence is on campus.
The celebration itself will involve a combination of open Greek houses and alpha chapter headquarters, exhibits at the McGuffey and Art museums and commemorative books documenting and showcasing the 175 years of brotherhood and sisterhood on Miami's campus.
According to Lugo, the main point and purpose behind each of these activities is to not only involve alumni by emphasizing the past of these chapters, but also to reveal the diversity of Greek life today and how it has evolved into the present Greek community.
"This celebration is about trying to understand what it means to be Greek," Lugo said. "I want everyone in attendance to gain an appreciation of the diversity of Greek life at Miami and how it's changed throughout the years."
Nils Tracy, the alumni chair of Phi Delta Theta, explained what his fraternity's role will be in preparing for the celebration.
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"We'll certainly include an invitation to our alums in the national newsletter to come back for the 175th anniversary," Tracy said. "Miami has such a rich tradition of Greek organizations that alums are always excited to come back for chapter events, especially ones that involve the entire Greek community."
That Greek pride is a feeling still very much alive in fraternity and sorority members at Miami today.
"When I wear my letters, I realize that I am a representative of my sorority and its core values," said senior Mandy Skutch, a member of Alpha Phi sorority. "I want people, especially the ones that aren't Greek, to know what amazing life experiences you can have from being involved in Greek life, especially here at Miami."
Those experiences, Lugo hopes, will be the ones highlighted when alumni and current students return for the 175th anniversary celebration.
"The key focus of this celebration is to bring back as many alumni as possible, and have some of the alumni talk about their Greek experience here and how it formed and shaped the lives they live today," Lugo said.
Five Greek organizations were founded at Miami and over one-third of the students accept bids during their time here. Due to the four fraternities that were founded in Oxford, Miami has earned the title of the "Mother of Fraternities." The sons and daughters of Greek life, along with Lugo, are hoping that the 175th anniversary celebration will be one big family reunion in the summer of 2008.
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