The annual Greek Block Party will take place today at 4 p.m. on Fletcher Field, offering the Tufts community a chance to come together and participate in a variety of planned activities.
The block party was rescheduled from its original date of Sept. 28 due to bad weather, but the event is not expected to be delayed again.
"It was [supposed to be] the Friday of Homecoming Weekend, but it was rained out," Interfraternity Council (IFC) President Tommy Castle, a senior, said. "I saw some chance [of rain for the new date], but hopefully not as bad as the Homecoming rain was and we can get it in."
Activities this year include powderpuff football sponsored by the Tufts Panhellenic Council, bocce ball and volleyball, as well as live music provided by a DJ.
"[Powderpuff football] is an event that they really enjoy doing every year, and so it's a nice time to be able to do that during a big event," Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Su McGlone said.
Each fraternity and sorority will host a booth on the field, offering face painting, cake decorating and free food like donuts and apple cider, according to Castle.
"This year we're trying to have more of a community feel," he said. "In years past, everyone's had their place on the street and there's not much interaction, but we're trying to make it so everyone's integrated and everyone can experience everything."
This is the first year the block party will be held on Fletcher Field instead of in front of the fraternity and sorority houses on Professors Row, Castle said.
"In previous years, we've closed down [Professors Row] and blocked it off, but we're going to try something new and make sure we stay out of the way of the hustle and bustle," he said.
In pushing back the date of the block party, both Castle and McGlone noted that the event will attract a larger number of prospective Greeks and other students since more people will have had time to hear about it.
"[The block party] has a dual purpose," McGlone said. "One, for the fraternities and sororities to get together and have a social event on campus in a prominent location, and to be able to spend some time together doing some great activities
but then also of course to invite prospective members or even non-prospective members who just want to come and enjoy themselves."
The block party is an important part of the image that Greek life presents to the community, according to McGlone.
"It's an opportunity to hopefully dispel some of the myths about fraternity and sorority life, to learn more about fraternities and sororities," she said. "I hope that someone who comes to it can get some food, have some fun, and see that there's a lot to fraternities and sororities and this is just one small component, and it's one small social aspect of them."
McGlone believes that Greek members and non-Greek students alike will enjoy the event.
"I think it's a great time for friends to come and get together and enjoy Tufts in the fall," she said.
