This year, USC’s sororities and fraternities are planning a family weekend separate from the university’s official family weekend — one not taking place over Halloween.
Greek Family Weekend is planned to run Friday and Saturday, including a daytime “Rowchella” music festival and individual tailgates ahead of No. 12 USC football’s marquee matchup with No. 20 Oregon, according to a website promoting the event run by the Panhellenic Council, the USC Interfraternity Council and the University Park Interfraternity Council.
The IFC includes the six affiliated fraternities at USC while the Panhellenic Council encompasses the nine affiliated sororities. The University Park Interfraternity Council includes fraternities not affiliated with the university.
Annenberg Media reached out to the presidents of the Phanehellenic and Interfraternity councils but did not hear a response in time for publication.
The University is not affiliated with the weekend plans, according to the website.
USC’s official family weekend is scheduled for October 29 to November 1, notably including Halloween, which is on the same day as arguably USC’s biggest football game of the season against No. 7 Ohio State.
In previous family weekends, Greek life organizations would often invite parents to parties. USC also typically hosts affiliated events like open houses, performances and tailgating.
Ziggy Wood, a member of sorority Alpha Delta Pi who will perform as part of Friday’s “Rowchella” lineup as Ziggy Sixx, said she wished there was only one family weekend, but understood why the decision was made.
“I think across Greek Row, pretty much everyone was upset that family weekend was going to be on Halloween, just because it’s Halloween,” said Wood, a senior studying the performance of popular music.
Wood, who has previously performed on campus including on Annenberg Radio News’ “Live From the Halo,” said she is excited to perform at “Rowchella,” which the weekend’s website says is expected to run from noon to 7 p.m. Friday with tickets costing $20.
“I’m playing with my longtime band members who are from USC … One of them is my sorority sister,” Wood said. “We’re going to do mostly songs of mine, and then a few fun covers that I haven’t done before. That’ll go over well with the families.”
The Saturday tailgates will be hosted by individual fraternities, while the councils are running “Rowchella.”
Proceeds from the $20 “Rowchella” tickets will go towards USC’s Joint Educational Project, which connects student volunteers with local schools and communities, according to the weekend’s promotional website.
The USC Intersorority Parents Council will also be hosting a speaker series and an all-row mixer this weekend.
Adalie Monterosa, a sophomore studying economics, said she wasn’t surprised that Greek life is separating from the university’s family weekend.
“It didn’t really surprise me because I feel like Greek life is very exclusive, so it made sense to me that [sororities and fraternities] would want something they could celebrate within their own groups,” Monterosa said.
Yasmina Mayo, a member of the Alpha Phi sorority, said that even though the events are marketed toward the parents of those in Greek life, the events are attracting other students. She said many of her friends outside of Greek life have opted to have their families visit this weekend to attend the Oregon game and avoid Halloween weekend.
“Everyone is treating this as a regular family weekend,” said Mayo, a junior studying film production.
Edited by Sean Campbell and Miranda Huang.