March 4-11, 2012 was a big week for Greek life members on Samford University's campus. Three significant events during the week were designed to bring together the Greek community.

The National Panhellenic Conference named Monday, March 4 as International Badge Day. Samford took it one step further and encouraged all members of active sororities and fraternities on campus to wear their membership badges, which is a formal membership pin.

Samford faculty and staff who are members of other Greek organizations not active on Samford's campus also were encouraged to sport their badges. Samford's Director of Greek Life Denny Bubrig said several individuals came to show off their badges.

Bubrig said events such as this are essential to Samford's Greek organizations for a number of reasons.

"It's a good thing to have. What you hope and ask for is these organizations live up to their values," Bubrig said. "This is one week we can really focus on our values and rituals. It also offers us an outside perspective."

Former Phi Mu national president Kathy Williams spoke March 7 to Panhellenic women as part of National Ritual Celebration Week. She spoke about living out one's rituals and values everyday.

Delta Sigma Theta members hosted a Founder's Day luncheon March 11, with Delta Sigma Theta's National Second Vice President Chelsea Hayes as the keynote speaker.

Bubrig said he was pleased with the feedback from the events. He said the implementation of this type programming for the Samford Greek community is a relatively new concept, making the success of these events encouraging.

"The turnout exceeded expectations and all the affiliates were able to take something from it," Bubrig said. "It has been fun… hearing different ideas the chapters are discussing now to reinforce the values of their ritual."

Tully Taylor is a senior journalism and mass communication major and a news and feature writer in the Office of Marketing and Communication.