Fraternity Circle aglow with holiday decorations, games, togetherness

Fraternity Circle aglow with holiday decorations games, togetherness

Members of Alpha Epsilon Pi, Kappa Sigma, and Sigma Kappa from left Spencer Kaplan, Dylan Keezer, Patrick Lesch, Adam Reinstein, Denzel Robinson, Jonny DeAngelis, Emily Hadfield, Madeleine Sherman, Milan Torjan. URI Photo by Nora Lewis

KINGSTON, R.I.-December 14, 2016- With the winter’s first snow lingering in the air and the sound of holiday tunes echoing through Fraternity Circle, the University of Rhode Island fraternities and sororities got in the holiday spirit by decorating their houses and inviting the community to come share in games, prizes, and holiday cheer.

Last Sunday, the second annual holiday lighting in Fraternity Circle brought members from all different chapters together to enjoy holiday activities just before the stress of finals takes over. Many of the houses were covered in lights and different decorations while other chapters set up tables for attendees to visit, play a game, or even make their own ornament. The event was open to the community who were asked to bring a new toy to donate to the URI Police Department’s annual holiday toy drive.

Blow up polar bears going for a sleigh ride on the lawn of Sigma Kappa, the winners of this year’s holiday lighting competition URI Photo by Nora Lewis

With lights wrapped around their front columns, pool noodles made to look like giant lollipops, or a blow up snowman riding a sleigh, Fraternity Circle was truly a winter wonderland last weekend. Most stops had hot chocolate to offer in order to make the journey from house to house more bearable in the face of the impending snow. Santa hats were everywhere and no matter where you turned, you could tell the holidays were here.

This year, houses were judged on decorations, the activity they were providing, and a kid’s choice category. Activities included making your own ornament, pin the tail on the Olaf, and spin the dreidel. After this year’s success, the fraternities and sororities, along with the rest of the URI community are excited to see next year’s holiday lighting. In honor of URI’s 125th anniversary, the whole campus could be aglow with holiday lights and teeming from one side of the quadrangle to the other with holiday cheer.

Lifesize pool noodle lollipops on the Alpha Xi Delta Lawn URI Photo by Nora Lewis

“We were happy with how the event turned out and are looking forward to making it bigger and better next year by including the campus and surrounding communities,” said Aurora Pierangelo, assistant director of the Fraternity Manager’s Association. “We are grateful to the Greek community for their enthusiasm and time in making this a fun event for the end of the semester.  We are going to begin planning for next year’s Holiday Lighting in January and have it be a part of the 125th celebration of URI.”

The winner of best activity was the pairing of Theta Chi and Zeta Beta Tau, who provided plenty of paint and glitter for those in attendance to make their own holiday ornament. The kid’s choice category was won by Phi Gamma Delta, with honorable mentions to Alpha Xi Delta, Kappa Delta, and Phi Mu Delta. The best lit house was awarded to Sigma Kappa.

If you are interested in joining next year’s holiday lighting committee, contact Pierangelo at  401-874-2913

Olivia Ross, an intern in the Marketing and Communications Department at URI and public relations major, wrote this press release.