SAGA
Throughout the world, stands of unity are being made constantly around every neighborhood. Humanity has begun to realize that unity brings the optimal level of happiness and prosperity throughout the world. At Rutgers University in New Jersey, 7 organizations have begun to push for a South Asian Greek Alliance (SAGA). SAGA is a movement started at Rutgers University. Its mission is to promote unity within such a diverse student body. SAGA preaches that through unity, we all can achieve the pride and accomplishment together as a South Asian community. Nine organizations have begun to handle that responsibility and are pushing for South Asian unity. The presidents of Beta Chi Theta, Sigma Beta Rho, Delta Epsilon Psi, Delta Phi Omega, Sigma Sigma Rho, Kappa Phi Gamma, Iota Nu Delta, and Delta Sigma Iota, agreed to have a week planned out where South Asian Greek Unity is evident in every Greek’s eyes. President Neel Patel who was one of the main advocates for Saga was very excited that he had 8 other leaders on the same page as him. “We may have different letters and different names, but at the end of the day we all represent the same cause – a positive movement for our South Asian community” said Patel.
SAGA consists of many different events throughout the week. ON March 27, 2011 all of the South Asian organizations got together and performed service at Rutgers Garden. The main purpose was help the local woodcutters take out the dead trees. They were very pleased that this one day they didn’t receive help from 12 students, but rather over 50 students. On Monday March 28, the organizations are introducing their cause and purposes for SAGA at Brower Commons, one of the central locations of Rutgers University. Tuesday, March 29th, there is a guest speaker who will be coming to Rutgers to speak about the purpose of an alliance within the South Asian Greek community. Some students realized the coincidence that this week of South Asian convergence is during the same time as the famous India vs. Pakistan Cricket Match. Wednesday March 30, was probably the most fun event. In the morning, blood drives were being held at Second Reformed Church in New Brunswick. Giving an opportunity to save a life touches the South Asian community. Alpesh Patel was walking on his own on Somerset St. when he saw the blood drive going on. Alpesh was taken back at how proud he felt when he saw 9 organizations getting together to set up a blood drive. “I wanted to be a part of it. It would be an honor deep down inside to be responsible for a life saved”. Students like Alpesh were slowly volunteering to donate blood. This event lasted till 5 p.m. Then at night everyone prepared popcorn and blankets at Busch Center for a Bollywood night. All organizations and other friends got together to watch 3 Idiots, a blockbuster movie throughout the world starring Aamir Khan. The purpose of this event was to donate school supplies to kids around the world who desired an education but lacked a fundamental medium of funds to purchase them. Finally on April 1st, there is going to be a massive “Holi Hungama”. Hungama translated in English simply refers to a bonanza or a massive party. Holi is celebrated as one of the most religious and playful days in South Asian culture where loads of color are thrown at each other to symbolize the ascension of good over evil.
Perhaps the best part of SAGA, is not only to promote Greek unity within its Greek South Asian community, but throughout Rutgers and hopefully the world as well. All of the events in this week are open to any students who are not Greek (affiliated with any fraternities or sororities). The aim of SAGA is to promote unity towards a happy South Asian community. While this has been the dream for many throughout history, few have been alive to pursue total unity within the South Asian community. Surprisingly enough, that movement is being pursued yet again with a few fraternity and sorority kids at a college filled with ethnic diversity. History has shown that making a stand to unite always began with those who wanted it the most. Hopefully the world will one day see that this small act of unity speaks words that are bold and courageous, insinuating that with two or three minor speed bumps on the way, unity is a steady journey that benefits everyone in the South Asian Community.
More information on SAGA can be found on www.rusaga.weebly.com
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Karan Parekh
Kappa Colony
