Seven students competed in the West Gym Saturday night, but only one walked out a “Greek God.”
Around 1,500 students attended the 27th annual Greek God competition, a charity event where fraternity members compete in a series of contests to take home the winning title for their fraternity.
Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority hosted the competition, which raised around $16,000. Proceeds benefited the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and the Sharsheret Breast Cancer Foundation, two of AEPhi’s national philanthropy foundations.
Each competing fraternity representative entered the competition on a float carried by members of his fraternity to face off in a toga competition, a pose-down competition, a formal skit and a formal wear competition. The finalists faced a question round and judges Lindsay Dain, John Fletcher, and Mark Soriano, the president of the Student Association, chose the winner.
John Cordero, a member of Phi Kappa Psi, won the competition and title of Greek God. Second place was awarded to Chi Phi member John Kneisel, while Delta Chi representative Yoni Levy placed third.
Cordero, a junior majoring in integrative neuroscience, said that winning the title shows that Phi Kappa Psi is one of the top fraternities at Binghamton University.
“I wanted to win to represent my fraternity well for everyone to see,” Cordero said.
However, Cordero tried not to take the contest too seriously.
“I just tried to do everything right and have fun with it, no matter what the results,” he said.
Kneisel said the importance of the competition came from the group he was representing.
“I did not compete just as John Kneisel, but as a representative of the Chi Phi Fraternity,” Kneisel said. “I was motivated by the unity this competition brings within my fraternity and the morale it raises, and how once a year Chi Phi gets to compete for that No. 1 spot.”
Although he did not win, Kneisel felt he made an impression within his fraternity.
“This competition brought together my interest in physical fitness and my love for the brotherhood, and within a fraternity that takes it so seriously, I felt it was a golden opportunity to leave my mark,” Kneisel said.
Jenny Baron, one of the Greek God chairs, explained the importance of the competition.
“This event is huge for AEPhi,” Baron said. “It is not only our largest philanthropy event, but it is also Binghamton’s largest philanthropic event as well.”
Jennifer Keegin, associate director for campus activities, helped prepare for the contest.
“There are only a handful of events at this point that consistently happen each year and can be said to be a University tradition,” Keegin said. “This event definitely brings a portion of the Greek community together each year.”