Color-Run inspired "Sorority Paint Wars" involves 75 pounds of paint
The BEMA got a whole lot more colorful this Saturday as women from various sororities participated in Sigma Delta’s “Sorority Paint Wars.” Inspired by the Color Run, in which runners are doused in different paint different colors after each kilometer, the event invited women to an hour of paint-throwing fun.
The Panhellenic Council provided enough funding to buy 75 pounds of paint powder so that Sigma Delt could open the event to all affiliated women. At the event, nine women from various sororities threw Dixie cups of the (washable!) tempera paint powder at each other until once-white shirts were covered with splotches of purple, yellow, orange, pink, blue and green.
Molly Chodakewitz ’15, Sigma Delt’s programming chair, said she was inspired to plan the event after attending a mini Color Run earlier in the summer with Summer Enrichment at Dartmouth. She originally proposed a similar Color Run-inspired activity as a programming event for Sigma Delt, then extended it to the Panhellenic council. After contacting other sororities’ programming chairs to gauge interest, Chodakewitz reached out to Panhell to receive funding for the paint.
Chodakewitz said she wanted to host a non-alcoholic event for all affiliated women.
“I really liked the idea of having an event for all sororities that wasn’t centered around drinking,” she said. “I feel like I got to know the people from other houses who came.”
Less than a week before reading period, Chodakewitz said she thought the event gave students a nice study break.
"It’s a good story and a nice thing to do on a Saturday afternoon instead of sitting in the library,” she said.
Tanya Budler ’15, who participated in the paint throwing festivities, said she wished women from more sororities had attended but that it was still a great way for women of different houses to bond. Budler said Dartmouth should sponsor events like Sorority Paint Wars more often.
“It really celebrates community in a memorable way,” Budler said.
Deby Buchness ’15 appreciated the novelty of the event.
“What we didn’t have in numbers we made up for in colorful fun and photographs,” Buchness said.