Greeks start publishing weekly paper

Before winter break commenced, the Greek community began writing its Odyssey.

The Odyssey, a free weekly publication from UNC’s fraternities and sororities, will seek to merge non-Greek students and Greek students’ perspectives, said Brent Blonkvist, publisher of the newspaper and a member of the UNC chapter of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

The first issue of The Odyssey, with a run of 1,275 copies, was distributed Dec. 9 to every sorority and fraternity house, as well as other locations on campus.

Issues will be distributed to Greek houses and various campus locations including the Student Union, the Student Recreation Center, the Undergraduate Library and the fraternity court newsstand, he said.

Funded entirely through advertising sales, the local edition of the paper is part of a national Greek publication founded at Indiana University, Blonkvist said.

Since its founding in fall 2009, 31 other universities have published their own editions.

Blonkvist said Olympia Media Group, the publishing house of The Odyssey, is trying to create a single network or website where members of Greek organizations across the country can converse.

Blonkvist added that he hopes the paper will eventually have one writer on staff from each of the 54 UNC fraternities and sororities. The paper is produced entirely by Greek students.

He added that sections for sports, entertainment and fashion would appeal to the non-Greek readers.

The positive response to the first issue has allowed the paper to recruit more writers who represent more fraternities and sororities on campus just over the winter break, he said.

“We currently have 10 Greek organizations represented on the paper’s staff and are busy recruiting more,” said David Alexandre, the contributing editor and also a member of Phi Delta Theta.

Blonkvist said editors expect interest in the paper to keep growing.

“The first few issues are meant to put it out there and once it gains more credibility, more people will want to write for it,” he said.

Lindsey Stephens, president of the Panhellenic Council, said the paper will reflect the Greek community in a positive light and present a different perspective to the student body.

“The paper is not meant to create a divide,” she said. “It could create a separation if it was only for Greeks, but it’s not meant only for Greeks to read.”

Alexandre said the paper will seek to introduce the entire student body to Greek life on campus.

“From the outside looking in, the Greek community can look like one monolithic entity — faceless and stereotypical,” he said.

“It’s a pretty amazing opportunity for Greeks in general,” Blonkvist said. “Greeks on campus come under lots of scrutiny, and it’s nice to have a voice to show the positive things we do.”

“We hope to leave a legacy,” he said.

Contact the University Editor at university@dailytarheel.com.