MONTINE RUMMEL/Arizona Daily Wildcat Campuspeak speaker David Stollman calls on new and old fraternity and sorority members to defy negative Greek stereotypes. Stollman's speech kicked off the first "Greek Week" held since 1998.

About 1,000 fraternity and sorority pledges and members who filled the Union's Grand Ballroom last night got a lesson in what it really means to be greek.

To kickoff "Greek Week," the first since 1998, nationally renowned speaker David Stollman asked the pledges to defy negative greek stereotypes, combat hazing and alcohol violations and promote brotherly or sisterly love and academic excellence on campus.

Greeks who do so, he said, will gain lifelong friends and leadership skills.

Stollman said that although hazing and alcohol violations are uncommon, such behavior can stigmatize the entire greek community and often overshadows greek philanthropies.

Stollman said that organizations that promote or participate in such behavior are mistaken about the true purpose of greek life and added that fraternity and sorority members should dedicate themselves to the spiritual and service-oriented values on which each chapter was founded.

"We make men better men, and we make women better women," said Stollman. "Greeks are the best thing on a college campus."

Clint Walls, vice president of public relations for the Interfraternity Council, said that he hoped greeks in attendance would learn from the presentation.

Walls said that alcohol and hazing were big problems on campus last year and added that Stollman was hired to inspire greeks to make better choices.

Last weekend, 36 people on a Gamma Phi Beta party bus were arrested for underage drinking. Last semester the Dean of Students office revoked the recognition of or put on probation at least five fraternities for hazing.

Stollman, a former member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity who spoke on behalf of the organization Campuspeak, said that he was happy to have the chance to come to the UA to reach out to greeks.

"I realized I could do something I believed in, something that I loved," Stollman said.

Sigma Kappa sorority member and pre-physiological sciences freshman Lisa Ann Yonko, said that Stollman's speech was successful at identifying and disproving stereotypes about fraternity and sorority life. Yonko and several of her sorority sisters including Kara Masano, a psychology freshman, and Lauren Schneiderman, an undeclared freshman, said that they were pleased with Stollman's presentation because it highlighted the many ways fraternities and sororities help the community.

Delta Delta Delta member Katie Carbrey, a pre-physiological sciences freshman, said that like many chapters, her sorority will be holding a blood drive this weekend to celebrate "Greek Week."

"Greek Week" started yesterday. Activities will include greek family feud, Greek Olympics, and Catwalk, which is open to the public and will raise money for the Bobbi Olson Foundation.