When a member of the Greek system graduates from UCLA, he or she is leaving behind a group of students that has become like family.
As the UCLA class of 2008 graduation approaches, many fraternities and sororities will honor their graduating members and celebrate their contributions to the Greek system.
Julie Cheng, a fourth-year physiological sciences student and a Gamma Phi Beta member, said her sorority’s end of the year traditions have been an exciting way to end her sorority experience. She said the experiences have reminded her of the importance of staying in touch with her sisters after graduation. These traditions include “secret sisters” assigned to each of the graduating seniors, and a senior banquet held during fifth week.
Each week throughout spring quarter the secret sisters give the seniors gifts related to a theme such as Hawaiian or “good luck on midterms.”
The secret sisters are revealed at the senior banquet, and creative methods are used to show the seniors who their secret sister is, Cheng said. Seniors who have been especially involved in the sorority throughout the year are also acknowledged at the banquet, she said.
Gamma Phi Beta’s celebrations that honor their seniors throughout spring quarter are coordinated by a senior celebration chair or co-chairs, Cheng said.
It is the chair’s responsibility to give the seniors their final warm memories of their sorority, she said.
The seniors also find ways to give back to Gamma Phi Beta before they graduate, such as fixing up an area of their house or decorating a room.
“The activities are really a give or take of the graduating class,” Cheng said. “It’s up to the class on how much they want to do, and this year the seniors really worked together.”
Many fraternities also have traditions for saying goodbye to their seniors.
The fraternity Pi Kappa Phi honors their graduating members in a less-formal way.
Jeff Looby, the president of Pi Kappa Phi, said they will hold a roast this week to tell stories and poke friendly fun at their graduating brothers.
“We don’t really hold anything official,” Looby said. “But the senior roast will be a final time to share stories, and we’ll have refreshments.”
Looby said that each graduating senior will have at least one story shared about them, and as each story is shared, they trigger other fun memories.
“We have about 20 guys graduating this year,” said Looby.
“The more a guy is around and the more involved he is, the more stories they will get at the roast.”
Gamma Zeta Alpha has several events to honor their seniors including a senior banquet that recognizes the seniors and their accomplishments. A barbecue is also held after graduation for members and their families.
Joseph Chicas, a fifth-year political science student and the president of Gamma Zeta Alpha, said he has enjoyed sharing his college experiences, the good and the bad, with his fraternity brothers. He said the ceremonies have allowed him to reflect back on what he called his family away from home.
“I’ve grown up a lot (with my fraternity brothers),” Chicas said.
“This is my network of close friends, and we have shared common experiences, like getting food late at night, going to parties and even going to the library together.”
Chicas said they also have a tradition where the fraternity brothers stand in a circle and take turns holding each graduating brother up in a show of support.
“Once you’re in a frat, you join a family,” said Chicas.
“Even if we grow apart after graduation, you still know that they’re there for you.”