An Event thROWed Away

Alexa Albrecht
Alpha Omicron Pi

A long standing Arkansas IFC Greek life tradition entails popular music artists leading a crowd at your favorite fraternities; a day in the sun accompanied by a crawfish boil; and a date night and two open parties. For the UofA Greek life, spring break was not the only excitement in mind, it was the anticipation of Row Week. However, this tradition has come to an end as this event has been canceled.

Upperclassmen of Greek life have come to either agree with the safety precaution taken by this change or have chosen to be against the ending of Row Week.  

“Although Row Week has technically been canceled, each fraternity is still able to have their own individual parties on different weekends throughout the spring. This will allow the parties to be more controllable as well as more available to everyone,“ said sophomore Mason Bodie of Sigma Nu.

Bodie says the fraternities are still planning to build fences for their individual events and will still be able host a crawfish boil, so the only change will be the time and day.

When touring the UofA and learning more information about Greek life, potential IFC members often attend Row Week. For some, it is a deciding factor for making the decision to go Greek.

“Row Week was 96 percent of the reason I came to the university,” said sophomore Ross Christensen of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

For the freshman that joined this past fall, not being able to experience Row Week is a big disappointment.

“I remember when I was with my mother touring the school and saw all of the fences set up for Row Week," said freshman Jordan Betts of Alpha Omicron Pi. "My mother looked at it and discouraged me from going, however, it made me so excited to attend just by seeing it!”

“I was definitely looking forward to Row Week because it was such a well-known tradition," said Hunter Hallmark of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. "I have always heard that it is an awesome experience."

After speaking with a lot of freshman IFC members, many have realized that there are safer alternatives in planning individual Row Week events.

“Well, I was definitely looking forward to Row Week, but I understand that taking the year off will be beneficial for the future of the event," said freshman Kohl Stover of Sigma Chi. "Moreover, I’m excited about the events many of the fraternities have planned for this year, including our own, Sigma Chi on the Beach.”

The cancelation of Row Week may have caused some dispute, but is predominately taken as a decision to ensure the safety of the fraternities as well as its guests. Row Week will definitely be missed this year and hopefully with results of the individual events and changes to its organization, Row Week will eventually make its return.

Alexa is a sophomore studying public relations and advertising. You may contact her at aalbrech@uark.edu..