Fairfield’s new club, the Big Fat Greek Club, launched its first meeting in the lower Barone Campus Center on Wed., March 3 to celebrate Greek culture and discuss upcoming plans for the club.
“There was an appreciation for Greek culture on campus and I wanted to start a club where these students could enjoy the Greek culture, while simultaneously benefiting themselves from the experiences that the club provides,” said George Daniolos ‘12, the president and founder of the new Greek club.
“I was shocked that Fairfield was No. 1 least diverse college so I wanted to help Fairfield become more diverse by providing a Hellenic club,” he continued.
Students who attended the meeting had the opportunity to sample many authentic Greek dishes: tiropitakia, tzatziki sauce, pita bread, vegetables, and a dessert of koulourakia cookies and paximathia biscotti, while they watched the hit movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” and learned more about the club as well as Greek culture.
The event would not have been possible without the efforts of Daniolos, who showed his Greek pride through the Greek flag emblem located on the top right of his Black Ralph Lauren polo. Daniolos initially planned on having the meeting in February, but had trouble agreeing on a date with the Student Organization Board of Governors since the club was new.
“At first I focused on finding the perfect date, but then I realized that it was more important to make sure people came,” Daniolos said.
The Big Fat Greek Club advertised its first meeting to the student body by putting up posters and signs across campus. But, it can be difficult for a new club to inform the student body of the time and place of its meeting as well as motivate them to come.
However, the posters caught the attention of Lauren Bukoski ‘13 and her friends. “We saw the sign early last week in Barone and decided that we were going to come,” said Bukoski.
“30 people was my goal,” Daniolos said twice. However, only 14 people showed when the event started. He was not surprised by the turnout because he took into consideration that it was midterm week. By the end of the meeting, more students had shown up to the meeting and Daniolos was only a few people shy from his goal.
Daniolos was not alone in setting up the club’s first event; he was assisted by his fellow classmates and mother.
“Together we faced some last minute challenges for simple things, but the school made them more difficult,” Lauren DiBartolomeo ‘12 said of troubles getting lights and trays from the dining hall.
Although Daniolos did not meet his goal of 30 people and experienced difficulties through working with school, it has not affected his future plans for the club. The Big Fat Greek Club is joining the Governor of Connecticut Jodi Rell in Hartford to celebrate Greece’s 189th year of independence from the Ottoman Empire on March 25. Daniolos also wants to create more credited abroad programs as well as non-credited trips to Greece.
While some students came to the event to show their Greek pride, others came to watch the movie and eat the food. Alex Sauerbrunn ‘10 has no Greek heritage, but has had some Greek food before. “I’m here for the joy of the movie,” Sauerbrunn said.
Other students attended the event to see what the new club is about. Jennifer George ‘12 is not a member of the Big Fat Greek Club yet, but is planning on joining soon. “My family is very Greek,” she said, “the movie represents my family, but less strict.”
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