The greek community came together this past weekend as five separate fraternity members competed to earn the title of Greek God in the competition’s 22nd year at Binghamton University.
The winner of the 2007 Greek God competition was Adam Morelli of Zeta Beta Tau, and first runner up was Nicholas Sepe of Phi Kappa Psi.
Each year a number of fraternities and sororities participate in the Greek God festivities and donate the proceeds to the host sorority’s charity ‘ this year the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatrics AIDS Foundation.
‘I think it’s great how all of greek life gets involved to raise money for the Elizabeth Glaser Foundation,’ said Ali Zomper, a junior and vice president of operations for host sorority Alpha Epsilson Phi.
The host sorority of the event, AEPhi, held the competition through a series of rounds, such as toga competition, pose down competition and formal wear competition.
A number of local companies and businesses donated money and gift certificates to help fund the event’s programs and prizes. Some of these companies, such as local fitness centers, donated membership deals for the winners, while other area restaurants, bowling alleys and dry cleaners also contributed.
Morelli received $100 in cash, two semesters at American Family Fitness & Aerobic Center, a one-year Bally Total Fitness gym membership, three Kampai Japanese Steak House gift certificates, a gift certificate to Leroy Pizza, five free games at Laurel Bowl and two gift certificates to Resciniti Dry Cleaners. Sepe was awarded a $50 cash prize, one semester at American Family Fitness & Aerobic Center, two Kampai Japanese Steak House gift certificates and four free games at Laurel Bowl.
All ticket sales, T-shirt sales and money collected by the fraternities for the penny war ‘ a competition between the greek organizations during Campus Wars to collect the most pennies ‘ was given to the charity.
Each fraternity competing in the event selected a representative to vie for the title in the pageant-like process. The representatives of the five competing fraternities, including Alpha Sigma Phi’s Bryan Mantovani, Chi Phi’s Richard Mermelstein, Phi Kappa Psi’s Nicholas Sepe, Zeta Beta Tau’s Adam Morelli and Alpha Chi Rho’s Francis Attah Benn, participated in a toga competition, pose down competition and formal wear competition.
Each fraternity’s contestant spent months preparing for Saturday night’s competition. If more than one member of a fraternity is interested in entering, the fraternity holds a mini version of Greek God to decide who will enter the main competition.
‘It’s a lot of effort and time for the volunteers,’ said event Assistant Co-Chair Dani Lazar, but each fraternity wants to enter the contest to get their name out and to have fun helping the cause. ‘We would have nothing without the support of the frats,’ she said.
ZBT’s Adam Morelli said he has been on a stringent diet, composed of decreased carbohydrates and high protein to prepare for the night’s events. He also said that he made sure he had plenty of sleep and hydration in order to look his best.
Morelli spent about five days a week at the gym to get in shape because ‘anything more than that is overworking your body.’
Sepe, Phi Kappa Psi’s representative, has been preparing for this competition since May 20 by eating healthy, small meals, not partying and working out five to seven days a week. Sepe said he joined Greek God because it’s ‘good thing,’ and says he is always willing to ‘show support for a good cause.’
By the final round of the competition, after two contestants were eliminated, the three remaining competitors competed in a question and answer section. Mantovani, Morelli and Sepe were asked a series of questions about their involvement in BU and their fraternity, which was the final determining factor for who the winner would be.