Operation Big Sweep

From the 1954 Tomahawk Yearbook

 

About 175 dunagaree-clad Greeks wielded paintbrushes and mops at the Martha T. Smith Home for the Aged as their second-annual Greek Week Help Week project, March 16 to 21.

 

Under the leadership of Howard Olson, Interfraternity Council president, "Help Week" Greeks painted walls, hung screens, repaired floors and furniture and scrubbed walls and floors. Donna Edstrand, Hugo Kahn and Lorene Shannon, members of the "Help Week" committee, assisted Olson.

 

Brush-swinging Greeks painted house trim, hallways, the kitchen, two bathrooms, seven bedrooms and two porches of the three-story home within the five day period. Colors used included blue, peach, yellow, green, and brown. Greeks wore old clothes and brought their own sponges, rags, brushes, brooms and buckets.

 

While others were busy inside painting, others were busy outside raking and burning leaves and washing and hanging screens. The exterior of the house was washed down, and the fence was repaired.

 

Occupants of the Home retired from the television set in the living room periodically to inspect the project. They took delight in watching their rooms transformed and had nothing but praise for the workers. Hugo Kahn, "Help Week" chairman, reported later that several requests for future Greek Week projects were received by his committee.

 

As part of Greek Week, the bookstore window was decorated with a replica of the Parthenon. On each pillar was the name of a Greek organization on the University campus. The frieze portrayed the social activities of the sororities and fraternities. The steps of the Parthenon were designated as community service, social life, unity, self-education and school activities. Donna Edstrand was in charge of decorations. Helping her were Jane Anderson, Joyce Erdkamp, Beth Fletcher, Bob Gregory, Connie Jacobson, Elaine Jones, Ed Oathout and Sharon Winner.