Southeast Missouri State University Greek fraternities and sororities are encouraging students to join them in a week filled with events to help raise money for the community.

Greek Week Director Jilleun Schmitt, who is a member of the Delta Delta Delta, said it has been difficult finding outlets they could use to provide information that would allow non-Greek students to know about events.

Schmitt also said the media has clouded how people perceive Greek fraternities and sororities so some students may be reluctant to attend.

“We are trying to get more involvement, so we can bridge that gap between Greeks and non-Greek students,” Schmitt said.

Schmitt said she has posted events on Living at Southeast, a public group on Facebook where students go to discuss topics around campus.

Destiny Deaton, graduate assistant at Southeast in the Office of Greek Life, said coming from another university and being a member of the Theta Theta Chapter Phi Mu fraternity there, she was not accustomed to “philanthropy” in Greek Week.

“We’ve had people from the Special Olympics tell us they literally could not function if it was not for the volunteers they have during Greek Week,” Deaton said.

Greek Week is an event that has taken place every spring at Southeast.

Schmitt said Greek Week is when Greeks on campus put aside differences and focus on the opportunity to give back to the community.

“We do a lot of events where we go help members of the community, we raise cans, donate money and do whatever we can for the community,” Schmitt said.

Maria Raiston, sophomore and Delta Delta Delta member, said Greek Week is not only important because Greeks are joining together to help, but it is nice to see students and other members of the community come out to participate.

“ I am really excited for Greek Week, this is my second year doing it, last year was my first and it was a blast to see not all Greeks coming together for a cause bigger than themselves, but seeing the rest of the community join in and being able to see how much we really helped them was a great perspective,” Raiston said.

April 1 will kick off the beginning of Greek Week with the Special Olympics being held at the recreation center at 8 p.m. to 5 p.m.