On Friday night, the Panhellenic Association (Panhel) hosted “Pajama Jam” in the Straight. The event was open to all students regardless of their affiliation with the Greek system.
“We wanted all Cornell students to feel welcome,” said Sarah Pettengill ’04, vice president of finance at Panhel.
“I was very pleased,” said Meghan Dubyak ’04, president of Panhel. “There were a lot of opportunities for interactions among segments of the entire Cornell community.”
The event offered pizza, massages, billiards, body art, a live band, a DJ, ice cream and a movie, all for free.
“People seemed to be having a good time. The DJ was great and the band was really good, [but] the massages were the best thing there,” said Jen Frieman ’05, a member of Delta Delta Delta who was in attendance.
The event had a pajama theme; members of all sororities were encouraged to wear pajamas throughout the day as an advertisement for the event. People who showed up to the event in their pajamas were entered into a raffle to win DVDs. The pajama theme was “formulated at a [Panhel executive] board meeting,” Dubyak said.
Panhel decided the theme was appropriate for a late-night event and appealed to both genders.
“It was a really nice idea and created a relaxed atmosphere, a much different one than when people typically go out,” said Alexis Fershing ’05, another Delta Delta Delta member present at the event.
Panhel organized “Pajama Jam” in order “to sponsor an event that went beyond the Greek system and increase [its] relations with all student groups on campus,” Pettengill said.
The event was also alcohol-free.
“Panhel stepped up as a leader to provide a nonalcoholic event,” said Nikki Letawsky, assistant dean of fraternity and sorority affairs.
While “Pajama Jam” also provided an opportunity for sister-building between all 13 sororities, Robyn Calmann ’05, vice president of programming at Panhel, said it was “an attempt to improve the image and reputation of the Greek system.”
The event was funded by CU Tonight and the Willard Straight Hall Programming Board. CU Tonight is a board that provides grants of up to $3,000 for late-night, alcohol-free events.
“We really enjoyed working with CU Tonight and the student activities office,” Dubyak said.
Panhel considered the event a success by all means.
“The event went very well. We were happy to see both Greek and non-Greek students [and] women and men attend the event. We were excited to extend Panhel’s duties beyond serving just the Greek system,” Pettengill said.
Archived article by Diana Lo