Great weather and free food greeted hundreds of greek students Monday on Central Campus at the Greek Spirit Day BBQ, in one of the first events of this week’s Greek Week.

As students mingled and waited in line to get their pizza, they listened to greek community members sing karaoke, for which Greek Week pairings earn participation points.

Sorority sister Jillian Stevens and Allison McCulloh, both juniors in graphic design and members of Kappa Kappa Gamma, got a rousing ovation for their, performance of Donny Osmond’s “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” from the Disney movie “Mulan.”

Stevens said they picked the song because, among other reasons, “everybody loves a little bit of Disney.”

“Two years ago at Dance Marathon, we made our own video to ‘Mulan,'” Stevens said. “It’s always been a joke in our house.”

Jennifer Tellis, freshman in early childhood education and member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, is participating in her first Greek Week. She said she enjoyed the lunch.

“I think it’s fun to see people let loose and not care what anyone else is saying for the sake of Greek Week,” Tellis said.

She’s looking forward to participating in the Greek Olympics, in particular, the bed races – an event in which pairings race beds around the slope on sorority circle – the area in Campustown where most greek houses are located.

“Stephanie [King, sophomore in chemistry] and I are basically going to die on beds,” Tellis said. “I’m excited.”

Amanda Day, Greek Week Central sponsorship coordinator and senior in hotel, restaurant and institution management, was responsible for planning the lunch.

Day said the event had a good turnout, and estimated they would see around 1,500 people.

Both she and Greek Week Central general chairwoman Courtney Knupp, senior in agricultural business, said they’re very happy Greek Week 2007 is now underway.

“It’s exciting to see the whole greek community come together,” Day said.

Knupp, who is serving as the only general chairperson when there are normally two, said things have run smoothly thus far.

“I think it’s going really well,” Knupp said. “We’ve been doing tons of planning, so it’s good. Things are finally taking shape. I’m having a blast with it.”

Monday’s lunch was one of many Greek Week events.

Other highlights include the Lip Sync first cuts at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union and the Greek Letter Day BBQ from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday on Central Campus, the Lip Sync and Karaoke finals at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Friday in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union.

Saturday will see the Greek Olympics from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the Polar Bear Plunge at 5:15 p.m. at Lake LaVerne.