Tufts students and local residents on Friday afternoon gathered on Professors Row for the annual Greek block party.
The Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) closed off the portion of Professors Row between Packard and Curtis Avenues to car traffic, allowing fraternities and sororities to set up tables featuring free activities like tie-dying, barbecuing and pumpkin carving.
The tradition of holding a block party began three years ago, according to Inter-Greek Council President Andrew McGowan.
"The idea was to have a social event that didn't involve alcohol and to incorporate all students and other members of the larger community," McGowan, a senior, said. "It's also [a] way to foster better relations with the houses and to unite the Greek community."
The Inter-Greek Council distributed funds to each house to finance the event's activities, according to McGowan.
Senior Maya Hauer-Laurencin, a sister in the Chi Omega sorority, praised the block party for its communal spirit and for showing a different aspect of the Greek community.
"This is a really fun event, but it's also nice to show the Greek system in another light, other than throwing parties," she said.
An AMP Energy representative distributed free energy drinks at the Sigma Nu fraternity's tie-dye table. Sigma Nu President Ryan Flood, a senior, said he is a Tufts representative for the brand and that Sigma Nu has run a tie-dye table in previous block parties.
"We decided to go with tie-dye because we've done it in years past and we always run out of t-shirts," Flood said. "We thought we'd do it again this year since it is always so popular."
Junior Jacob Schiller, president of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, was glad to see an enthusiastic crowd participate in pumpkin carving at his house's table.
"We just love the Halloween season and felt there was no way to celebrate it without the carving of pumpkins," Schiller said.
The Alpha Omicron Pi (AOII) sorority also hosted a table featuring pumpkin decorating.
"It's a little bit quiet today, probably because it's so cold, but it's great to have fun extended to a non-Greek community," junior Nathalie McClure, an AOII sister, said.
Theta Delta Chi brother Max Gray, a senior, was pleased that so many Greek organizations were represented at the event.
"It's not every day you see all of the frats and sororities at one event. This is a nice way to bring everyone together," he said.
Senior Shabazz Stuart, a brother of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, stood behind two large trays of chicken wings at his house's table.
"We were going to have a wing eating competition, but it didn't happen, so now we're just giving away free wings," Stuart said.
