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(08/29/11 1:31am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Welcome Week took a special meaning for upperclassmen and freshmen who have yet to set foot in an IU class. The National Pan-Hellenic Council, which oversees IU’s eight historically black greek organizations, sponsored a weekend of orientation and socialization opportunities for current and potential members to celebrate the council.“Programming is one of the main ways we recruit new members,” said senior Jeff Williams, council vice president.“They are, for the most part, to let the campus know what the active chapters are doing, but (they are) also a way to know what it means to be a part of NPHC.”This year marked a first for the “Meet the Greeks” event. Williams, who helped develop the idea and plan the event, described it as “business professional.” Members of each chapter gave presentations about their values, national reputation, campus involvement and opportunities.Whistles, music and cheering could be heard Saturday from North Jordan Avenue as the council convened behind the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center for the annual Welcome Back Strollfest. Members of each chapter performed a choreographed dance amidst a sea of new and old faces.Sophomore Tierra Griffin wasn’t able to make last year’s events but said the weekend felt both informative and unified. “A lot of people came out to support NPHC, which was really good to see,” said Griffin, who is rushing now. “It was an event for greeks and non-greeks. Nobody was on a pedestal. They were trying to help everybody out.”Because the council planned such a big Welcome Week event, planning and practicing began last semester, Williams said.“You make time to put together a good show,” he said. “This is one of the first looks of what your chapter can do. You’re representing your organization.”
(08/24/11 4:59am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Five years ago, Sigma Phi Epsilon found itself back on campus, picking up the pieces of an established legacy with completely new members,new goals and — eventually — a new house on North Jordan Avenue.This summer, the chapter members of the reestablished IU fraternity accepted the prestigious Buchanan Cup, which honored the organization for its progress, strong leadership foundation and adherence to fraternity-wide principles. Junior Bennett Fuson, director of public relations for Sig Ep’s IU chapter, said winning the Buchanan Cup is like winning an Oscar. That’s why the application process, which is open to all Sig Ep chapters in the nation, is some 30 pages long. Fuson said the process of moving back on campus and regaining good standing with the national organization made it easier for the IU chapter to win the cup this year.Chapter President Kurt Skaggs, a senior, said while the men are proud of the achievement, they are trying to be humble. He initiated the application process, organizing all the information and filling out all the paperwork in February, but he said each member contributed. “We take a lot of flack for following those principles and living our lives the way we do, and it’s really good to see the external affirmation of our hard work,” said senior and IU Student Association President Justin Kingsolver, who serves on the Sig Ep National Board of Directors.The winning Beta Chapter at IU is one of 241 Sig Ep chapters across the country. Sig Ep is among the largest fraternities in the country.National Executive Director Brian Warren said in an average year, fewer than half the chapters apply for the Buchanan Cup.“For whatever reason, they know their performance doesn’t warrant the award,” Warren said, “but a chapter like Indiana is extremely competitive both on IU’s campus and nationwide.”The award is given every two years, Warren said, to assess how well chapters adapt to changes — particularly the transitions in leadership that occur each year. Approximately 20 percent of Sig Ep chapters are recognized with a Buchanan Cup each year. The last time IU won was in 1986.Kingsolver, newly elected to the Board, attended the ceremony in Phoenix and was the representative who ultimately accepted the award.“We probably have 300 people we owe that Buchannan Cup to,” he said.
(08/24/11 12:36am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Five years ago, Sigma Phi Epsilon found itself back on campus, picking
up the pieces of an established legacy with completely new members,new
goals and — eventually — a new house on North Jordan Avenue.
This summer, the chapter members of the reestablished IU fraternity
accepted the prestigious Buchanan Cup, which honored the organization
for its progress, strong leadership foundation and adherence to
fraternity-wide principles.
Junior Bennett Fuson, director of public relations for Sig Ep’s IU
chapter, said winning the Buchanan Cup is like winning an Oscar. That’s
why the application process, which is open to all Sig Ep chapters in the
nation, is some 30 pages long.
Fuson said the process of moving back on campus and regaining good
standing with the national organization made it easier for the IU
chapter to win the cup this year.
Chapter President Kurt Skaggs, a senior, said while the men are proud of the achievement, they are trying to be humble.
He initiated the application process, organizing all the information and
filling out all the paperwork in February, but he said each member
contributed.
“We take a lot of flack for following those principles and living our
lives the way we do, and it’s really good to see the external
affirmation of our hard work,” said senior and IU Student Association
President Justin Kingsolver, who serves on the Sig Ep National Board of
Directors.
The winning Beta Chapter at IU is one of the 241 Sig Ep chapters across
the country. Sig Ep is among the largest fraternities in the country.
National Executive Director Brian Warren said in an average year, fewer than half the chapters apply for the Buchanan Cup.
“For whatever reason, they know their performance doesn’t warrant the
award,” Warren said, “but a chapter like Indiana is extremely
competitive both on IU’s campus and nationwide.”
The award is given every two years, Warren said, to assess how well
chapters adapt to changes — particularly the transitions in leadership
that occur each year.
Approximately 20 percent of Sig Ep chapters are recognized with a Buchanan Cup each year. The last time IU won was in 1986.
Kingsolver, newly elected to the Board, attended the ceremony in Phoenix
and was the representative who ultimately accepted the award.
“We probably have 300 people we owe that Buchannan Cup to,” he said.
(02/18/11 4:42am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Dean of Students Pete Goldsmith took the podium at Wednesday’s Greek Media Training and spoke of Delta Upsilon’s initiation ceremony. And CollegeACB.His introduction — and the evening that followed — was a lesson in reputations.“If you want to improve your image,” Goldsmith said, “you have to know all your images.”Each year, the Greek Media Training Committee puts together a presentation to teach its members how to react and respond to a crisis as well as promoting a positive image across campus.This year, Dean Goldsmith was on hand to offer advice while the Vice President of Hiron’s and Company Communications Jim Parham led a discussion and lecture about greek image. Reviewing a recent article about a fraternity shooting in Youngstown, Ohio, the audience discussed what the university and its leaders did wrong when handling the crisis.They also compared what they would do differently.Parham called upon audience members, grouped by table, and listened to their ideas about risk management and public relations.“In crisis management, you all need to sing from the same sheet,” Parham said.But the focus wasn’t just on risk management.Promoting things such as honesty, preparation and communication, Parham said there was a lot to celebrate in IU’s greek community.“There are so many things you do well,” he said, “but no one takes the time to publicize it.”To lack a plan, he bluntly said, is to be incompetent. “Create your own publicity. Do something crazy, show some camaraderie,” he said.Upon the presentation’s conclusion, members talked among one another and discussed their chapters’ publicity plans. Sophomore Paige Kuklenski, representing Chi Omega, said she thought the evening was enlightening. “It helps put into perspective the image the greek community can put off and was very informative with ways to help boost the public’s image of the greek community,” Kuklenski said.Before Goldsmith and Parham concluded the evening, they warned against what to say and when. Just because a reporter asks a question doesn’t mean it has to be answered. Tonight wasn’t about how to behave; it was about how to talk about behaving. “We live in a media-rich environment,” Goldsmith said.
(02/07/11 2:42am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In the midst of transitioning into their new duties as Interfraternity Council executive officers, new executives were already dealing with an incident that had not happened in a IU greek house for years.It was a Friday afternoon when sophomore Brian Macken was discovered unconscious at Phi Sigma Kappa, and by that evening, all chapter presidents, both of fraternities and sororities, voted to cancel all social parties and activities until further notice.IFC President and junior Matt Edwards said he had nothing to do with it.“It was unanimous,” he said. “We came to (the chapters) and said, ‘Here’s a serious issue, how do you guys want to deal with it?’” And what followed, he said, was a week of grieving, reflecting, bonding and revising.“We teach each of our members to assume a role of care and to look out for instances like these,” Edwards said.During this time, the sororities and fraternities reviewed and revised their risk management plans. Edwards and other executives met with chapters individually to evaluate the new changes.There was no formal end of the moratorium on partying. Edwards said chapters were permitted to schedule social events on a case-by-case basis after they had met with their respective IFC or Panhellenic Association executives.“We preach one thing as IFC,” Edwards said. “But each chapter had their own ideas. It’s more universal.”While Phi Sigma Kappa awaits its fate to be determined by an ethics board review, Edwards said he is trying to be an adviser of sorts but is not pointing fingers.Edwards said the administration, from the greek adviser to the deans and vice presidents of the University, has been supportive. “We decided all this on our own,” he said. “I think that showed them that we are who we say we are. We can deal with these things and work with the University.”Though things are slowly returning to normal, Edwards said there is a renewed sense of responsibility and awareness between chapters.On a personal level, the new president said his job has gotten easier, but it’s coupled with a sense of seriousness that will last throughout the term.Saturday’s memorial service, three weeks after Macken was found unconscious, served as another reminder.“It’s a somber sense of reality,” Edwards said. “Something like this makes everyone want to work harder.”
(01/12/11 4:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Members of the IU Dance Marathon and each of its committees are sponsoring a callout meeting tonight to talk about IUDM, their goals for the 2011 marathon and answer any last minute questions.Though committee member applications are due Friday — with interviews beginning next week — IUDM president Michael Essling said anyone interested is encouraged to attend. “You don’t have to do IUDM, but if you’re interested or on the borderline, definitely come check it out,” Essling said. The meeting is from 8 to 9 p.m. in Kelley School of Business 223. Essling said the meeting will probably last between 30-45 minutes, but individuals are encouraged to stay after to talk with representatives of specific committees they could join.Essling said the organization hopes to recruit at least 500 committee members for the 36-hour dance marathon this fall. Participation in IUDM is not required for people to join a committee.“People are more than welcome to come check it out if they’ve never done it before,” he said.
(01/11/11 5:23am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Twenty-four hours after three party, several hundred bids were awarded to women across campus. It was a long, challenging and emotional process. And it was a computer database that ultimately helped make and organize all the final decisions.Since 2004, IU’s Panhellenic Association has used Interactive Collegiate Solutions, a database based out of Texas, to keep each woman’s — and all 19 chapters’ — rankings organized. ICS’ web-based programs are marketed primarily to greek organizations, and its website advertises that its “Collegiate Recruiter” keeps its clients organized while saving them time and money. In an era before computers, women in each house, with the help of Rho Gammas, were responsible for keeping track of whom they invited back and when. For several decades, though, IU’s PHA has employed some type of computer database to keep track of all the women, the chapters and their preferences. This year, seniors Ellen Mauger and Eileen McClary are the directors of computer recruitment and are solely responsible for overseeing IU’s recruitment database.They had to learn the program, explain it to each chapter and the Rho Gammas, and double-check all the data entered.“It’s about ease of use and reliability,” Mauger said. “Most schools use an automated database system.”Both Mauger and McClary said the technology — and their responsibilities — had their challenges in the beginning, but it got easier with each rush party. “It’s straightforward when you use it day-in and day-out like we do. It’s second nature,” Mauger said.In a sorority system as large as IU’s, Mauger said computers are the only way to get every woman’s rankings accurately and efficiently accounted for.In most instances, each potential new member and her Rho Gamma ranked and submitted preferences on a laptop following the end of each round of parties. Georgia Smithee, known as “Rho Gamma Jordan,” met with each of the women in her group individually. Together they ranked and talked about the houses, but the women themselves hit the “save” button. In this, Smithee said, the girls rushing felt more responsibility in the process and knew that their choices had been submitted — and submitted accurately. “From my point of view, it’s the best way to ensure accuracy in everyone knowing where they want to be,” Smithee said. “They see the verification screen, but then I go back to Panhel and double-check everything again. There’s a real sense of security.”As McClary explains it, the women are still making the concrete decisions. The database just organizes it.Mauger and McClary’s position exists simply to make sure everything is working properly and that everyone’s opinions are factored into the overall equation.Though it’s challenging work — Mauger and McClary’s real work begins after the rounds and lasts into the wee hours of the morning — both women agree it’s necessary and important. “If we didn’t have it, I don’t understand how anything could be done on time,” Smithee said. “We couldn’t do the bulk of this recruitment process in a week. It would take days to sort everything out.”
(01/10/11 5:30am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU Campus Bus Service is changing part of its Night Owl route.The L Route will no longer operate on Fee Lane.Residents affected — those living in Foster Quad, McNutt Quad and Briscoe Quad — can instead catch rides on the A Route buses. The L Route will run both ways up and down North Jordan Avenue, serving residents of the Central and Southeast Neighborhoods.The Night Owl routes resume 12:30 a.m. Friday.For a complete schedule of all campus buses, visit iubus.indiana.edu.
(01/07/11 5:18am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The screams of sorority girls will soon be heard as the three month process of recruitment comes to an end Monday. The girls who decide to rush, though, do not go through it alone.Behind each group of potential new members — PNMs — is a Rho Gamma, or recruitment counselor, to help answer questions, coordinate schedules and rankings and support all the decisions that must be made.This year there are 79 Rho Gammas. They were hired in March, have met weekly since September, can sing the cheers of each chapter and are disaffiliated from their own organizations. They use fake names so their PNMs don’t know to which sororities they belong.Rho Gamma “Kelley” has been camped out in the Indiana Memorial Union, helping her group of sophomore women through the rush process.“I know that going through recruitment is extremely difficult,” Kelley said. “When I went through I didn’t feel 100 percent confident talking to my Rho Gamma. I wanted to make sure the girls that went through recruitment this year had someone to talk to.”Kelley, who met her Rho Gamma group just before Thanksgiving Break, said the women in her group have become less overwhelmed by the process the more they learned about it.“You don’t know whether to base your perceptions off the houses this year or the houses last year,” Kelley said of the sophomores. “A lot of my PNMs have come to me and said their idea of recruitment has changed a lot since they were freshmen.”But across campus, Rho Gamma “Ali” is working with freshmen women in McNutt Quad, trying to support each of them through all the stresses of a process that can be very overwhelming. She describes her job as one of support and celebration.“You get to know these girls on a one-on-one basis,” Ali said. “I’m getting to know their personalities so I can actually have a conversation with a PNM and then gauge how to act around them.”Despite her training, Ali said the hardest part is knowing many women will be upset by the process, particularly in a greek community as competitive as IU’s.“I’m predicting when my girls aren’t going to be receiving back chapters they fell in love with in the beginning,” Ali said. “I’m going to be just as upset as they are. But they know I’ll be here, and always be here, long after the process.” But it’s as much about supporting potential members as it is enjoying recruitment from a different perspective.As upperclassmen, both Ali and Kelley rushed women last year. By being Rho Gammas, they said they lose being a part of their own chapters but have instead forged new friendships with women throughout the greek community.This year, the Panhellenic Association has reserved a block of rooms at the IMU, where each Rho Gamma will stay until early Monday morning — when the final rankings have been submitted. “This is a time to really bond with your chapter,” Kelley said. “I personally am very passionate about my chapter and I love recruitment, but it’s been really cool that all the Rho Gammas are together.”As the process finally draws to a close, senior Robyn Coale, one of three recruitment directors who helped hire and train Rho Gammas, said it’s the support that makes recruitment so organized and more enjoyable for all.“There are so many logistical things and so many rules,” Coale said. “But students run the whole process.”
(12/19/10 4:53pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU Police Department responded to a burglary at Forest Quad Friday, Dec. 17.A male student on the 9th floor B was sleeping in his room with the door unlocked and awakened to two men looking through items in his room, IUPD Chief of Police Keith Cash said.The resident caught one man while the two other escaped.Jason Beckham, 20, was arrested at the scene.After detectives interviewed Beckham, Cash said the two men who fled the scene were identified and arrested, Benjamin Herr, 20, and Casey Layman, 19.The men live in Bloomington, but are not IU students. No property was taken from the room.
(12/09/10 5:40am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Fifteen years ago, sorority Alpha Omicron Pi and fraternity Beta Theta Pi sat nestled on the corner of 10th and Woodlawn in the buildings that now house the School of Informatics and Computing. Throughout time, for very different reasons, they left campus, recolonized and started anew. With recruitment around the corner, chapter’s statuses, reputations and living accommodations are more prominent. “Being kicked off (or leaving) campus is one the hardest things for a fraternity or sorority,” AOPi president and senior Kacey Bourdage said. “When you take someone’s house away, you kinda take away their identity.”AOPi left voluntarily in 1996. Several other sororities had left campus the year before, and Bourdage said the sorority’s international headquarters did not think IU’s chapter — or the system overall — was a healthy one. The sorority built a new house and moved back in 2000. “It’s overwhelming. You’re starting from square one,” Bourdage said. “There are a lot of details that go into it. It’s very time consuming.”By the time Bourdage pledged her freshman year, in 2008, she said the house had a presence on campus, but there were a lot of things that were still unorganized — the sorority still felt “new.”Since then, Bourdage said the women have tried to build up the house’s reputation, and it finally feels like it is established. Though the women of AOPi continue to work hard, Bourdage said being kicked off and having returned is no longer a major piece of the sorority’s identity.Beta’s outgoing president, junior Matt Edwards, said the re-building process is still in the minds of all members.The fraternity, originally kicked off for a variety of factors in 2001, returned in 2003 and built a new house in 2007.“There were a few alumni who saw this as an opportunity to bring the chapter back as it should be,” Edwards said. “We have had a good advisory system.”Edwards said the founding fathers were really involved in campus-wide activities, which still influences the type of person Beta recruits.“(The founding fathers) were really passionate about bringing those values to a fraternity that had been so strong,” Edwards said. “We were the first fraternity on campus.”He described the recolonization process, and how much Beta has accomplished in five years, as “a night and day difference.”“It doesn’t take much to get kicked off,” Edwards said. “If our members didn’t believe in our principles and continue to believe in our principles, we wouldn’t be where we are today. You have to be thinking long-term.”Across the street from Beta sits a vacant plot of land. Fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon owns it and is waiting to raise enough money and pledge members to build a new house.In 2002, SAE was kicked off for hazing and alcohol violations. Shortly after the fraternity moved off campus, the house was destroyed in a fire. “While other fraternities are focusing more on things like risks, that is less of my concern,” outgoing SAE president Alex Garrison said. “I really had to focus on marketing our chapter to alumni and improve those relations.”Garrison said the fraternity has a tentative timeline for when it will move back on campus. SAE is one of the biggest off-campus fraternities with 50 active members, but Garrison said it will be difficult to continue to expand without a central location.“A lot of our younger members realize there is a lot of work to get the house on track,” Garrison said. “Until we get that house back, we will continue to work hard. Once people are living it, I wouldn’t be surprised if we became really influential.”
(12/06/10 5:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“Special” buses idled along North Jordan Avenue and Third Street, while
fraternity brothers stood in front of their houses entertaining those
who walked past.
Women lined up outside the fraternities’ neighbors, shivering in the
bitter cold. Other women took their places behind each of the sorority
house’s door, ready to greet the girls who could become the newest
pledge classes.
19 Party — the process of potential new members visiting all sorority
chapters in two days — is only the first round of a month-long process.
But the weekend spread further than in the homes of sororities, with fraternities getting involved as well.
“These women have one weekend of stress, and we have more than that
(spread out),” said freshman Sam Incardona, a member of Kappa Sigma.
To show his support for the sororities, Incardona spent his weekend on
the front lawn of the fraternity passing out hot chocolate to Rho Gammas
and the girls rushing.
On Sunday, many freshmen spent their break from the recruitment process
catching up on sleep, grabbing a bite to eat or studying for the week
ahead.
Freshman Paulina Minite said she emerged from her afternoon break
refreshed. Minite said she overcame all her initial nerves about the
weekend and was enjoying the process more.
“In the beginning, when you’re at that first house, that time seems
really long waiting outside,” she said. “Overall, when you’re in the
house, it goes by, it feels like you’ve spent 10 minutes inside.”
She said she’s been waiting for this weekend, assuming it would be a time commitment and a disruption of her normal plans.
“I do the same thing every weekend,” she said. “(19 Party) has been a great experience, and I’ve really enjoyed it.”
It’s been an out of the ordinary weekend for current members, too.
Though it varies by chapter, many sororities implemented policies
regarding when members must be in the house to assist with 19 Party.
Junior Laura Walker, a member of Alpha Gamma Delta, said she’s used the down time after the rounds to catch up on homework.
“We have breaks, and at the end of the day by 8 p.m., we have time for
homework,” Walker said. “It does consume a lot of the weekend, but there
is still time to do other things.”
Walker said many of her sorority sisters planned around this weekend by
doing projects early or have built time into their schedules for work
later this week.
“We know what’s coming. We know what the time commitment is,” Walker
said. “It’s stressful, but you can pre-plan well in advance. It’s not as
big of a deal as you would think it is.”
With such a busy weekend for sororities, their counterparts — the
fraternities — were left with little to do. Incardona said the weekend
was “chill.”
“There haven’t been any parties or anything this weekend, no interaction
with the sororities because they’re all on lock-down,” Incardona said.
“It was just the guys hanging out.”
By early Sunday evening, Incardona and several of his pledge brothers
said they estimated they had served “hundreds” of cups of hot chocolate.
“It’s a one-of-a-kind weekend,” he said. “This doesn’t happen all the time.”
(12/03/10 6:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>They’ve met with their Rho Gamma, reviewed dress codes, received schedules, talked with women in greek houses and filled out all their personal information.Though nerves are high, freshmen roommates Amanda Ytterberg and Leah Wechter said they find great comfort in having each other. They will be rushing together, alongside many of the girls living on their floor.“I thought rushing would be a good opportunity to meet people and make new friends,” Ytterberg said. “But I don’t know what exactly is going to happen. It’s been good to have someone else to always talk about it with.” In all the excitement that’s slowly being replaced with uncertainty, these girls, and the rest of their floor, haven’t lost sight of the bonding that takes place during recruitment.“There are a lot of girls on our floor rushing, and that makes it easier,” Wechter said. “I think I’d feel a lot different if there weren’t as many girls. Since there are, we sort of all have the same feelings and worries.”Such friendship and support aren’t limited to the potential new recruits.On the other side of things, senior Lindsey Hougland, recruitment chairwoman for Chi Omega, said sisterhood is important during the stressful weeks of recruitment.“Everyone has to work together in order for the process to go smoothly and end up successful,” Hougland said. “It can be really tiring. There is so much to do and prepare. It definitely takes everyone.”The first party — and the subsequent parties that will follow in early January — provides each chapter with the opportunity for all the members to be together. No one is distracted with tests, extra-curricular commitments, relationships or parties. “It’s a whole weekend together. Spending such a long amount of time together working for the same goal definitely brings us closer,” Hougland said. “I think this is more exciting on our part because we’re meeting all the girls, we know what to expect.” In a broader sense, Hougland said recruitment brings the entire greek community together. The friendships made during recruitment don’t end there. Houghland said just because women pledge different houses, or sometimes not at all, doesn’t mean the friendship is done. “Bonding with other people, even if you don’t end up in the same place, sort of makes the greek community stronger.” Hougland said. “You’ll know other people.” And though she’ll be competing for shower stalls, sinks and counter space with all the other women who are rushing Saturday, Wechter maintains a similar mindset.“I assume it’s going to be really crazy with all of us trying to get ready and out the door,” Wechter said. “But I don’t look at this as a competition. I don’t see them as people I’m competing against, even though we technically are. They’re still my friends in the end.”
(11/16/10 3:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The average person needs seven to eight hours of sleep a night to fully function.By the time IU Dance Marathon concluded Sunday morning, 36 hours after it began, dancers and committee members might as well have been delirious. “There are two parts to this, the mind and the body,” said Kristen Malmstrom, graduate assistant for the fitness and wellness department in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. “They’re going to feel exhausted. There will be problems with coordination, alertness. It’s an impairment.”Maggie Pinnick, a member of the marathon relations committee, was a dancer last year. After 24 hours, she took her first of the committee members’ two allotted breaks by squeezing in a quick nap. “Because we’re committee members, we’re throwing the marathon for the dancers, and that’s why we get breaks,” Pinnick said. “But really, we only get two four-hour breaks, and usually people don’t take them because they’re always missing something.”She said she would have been fine without the two-hour nap, but with nine hours left, she felt much more refreshed.“I have another nine hours left. I feel like ‘let’s go for another 12 hours. Let’s go for another 24.’ It’s not a big deal anymore,” Pinnick said. A lot of what keeps participants going is the correlation between the mind and the body. Malmstrom said sleep deprivation is much more apparent while studying or driving — activities that employ the mind only. IUDM, which requires the dancers to be on their feet all 36 hours, is a physical activity. Long after the mind shuts down, feet were still moving, which created a sort of distraction.Freshman Zach Weiss heard about IUDM at orientation. He joined the marathon because his pledge class was participating.“To be honest, 36 hours is a lot longer than I thought it would be going into it,” he said. “When it’s over, you’re exhausted and your feet really hurt, but seeing those final totals makes it worth it.” Malmstrom said it’s easy to prepare by getting a good night’s sleep before the event. But sleep deprivation is much tougher to make up. “You can make up for one or two hours, but you can’t necessarily make more than that up in one night,” Malmstrom said. “It’ll take four to five days.”Two sleep cycles later, Weiss couldn’t agree more.“I’m in recovery mode,” Weiss said. “Now I’m just getting caught up on homework.”
(11/15/10 3:24am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Some 1,600 miles from its founding chapter at Arizona State University, Sigma Phi Beta has found another home at IU.The gay-straight allied fraternity initiated its first class of 12 students for the IU colony Saturday.“It was really validating,” senior and member Jake Porter said. “It’s been almost two years in the making.”Since its inception at ASU in 2003, the fraternity’s national president Nathan Arrowsmith said campuses across the country have shown interest in starting chapters, though IU is the first actual colony.“The students reached out to us,” Arrowsmith said. “But (IU) has a very large greek system. They’re really connected, and they do a lot on campus, so having Sigma Phi Beta here will be a great thing.”Following Saturday’s traditional initiation activities, the new members and national representatives celebrated with a dinner at a local restaurant.“We’re kind of breaking bread with members of the Alpha chapter and alumni,” Porter said. “It’s a way to get to know each other in less of a formal setting.”All 12 members identify as gay, bisexual or transgendered, but the fraternity is open to any male.“It’s a safe place for everyone,” said Josh A. Thomas, colony president and junior. “No matter what their sexual orientation is, people can bring different things to the table. And we’re now able to bring the values of Sigma Phi Beta into other areas.” Thomas, Porter and three other men first approached the national chapter during summer 2009 to push for representation at IU. After approving the colony application, the national fraternity created an inaugural pledge education program for the IU students in order to teach the history and values of the fraternity to interested students.“Today was important because it put brothers on the campus,” Thomas said. “It makes it more official to have brothers who have been initiated.”But with the first initiation completed and celebrated, there is more work to be done. The members must now establish bylaws and recruit new pledges to help the colony attain chapter recognition.For more information on the fraternity, visit www.sigmaphibeta.org.
(11/11/10 2:49am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The 46 members of IU’s Dance Marathon morale committee have met every week since January. They visit high schools, develop and teach IUDM’s famous line dance and keep dancers motivated for 36 hours.And that’s just one committee.This year’s dance, which raises funds for the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, will begin at 8 p.m. Friday and end at 8 a.m. Sunday in the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation.Behind all the dancers who raise money are volunteers to support them. IUDM Committees are responsible for everything from dancer relations to marketing and operations.“A lot of people don’t really understand when they sign up what exactly they’re going to be doing,” said Michael Essling, senior and president of the morale committee. “So we just really try to connect with the people and explain to them why we’re there and why they should be excited.”The 15 committees, on which about 500 students serve, are created at the start of every new year.But volunteers span more than just committees.Dancer Group Representatives, commonly referred to as DGRs, are members of the different teams as cheerleaders.They do not dance but instead raise money, serve as liaisons between the dancers and the executive board and support the dancers during the marathon.“I’m from Indianapolis. I’m familiar with Riley, and I know what great things they do there,” Kimberly Sons, junior and DGR for Alpha Omicron Pi, said. “I wanted to continue raising money for them while also helping to get other members of my sorority involved.”Last summer, Sons fundraised at events in both Bloomington and Indianapolis, posted inspirational stories throughout her sorority house and kept AOPi dancers informed about IUDM.Sons danced last year but will not be at the marathon all 36 hours this year. Her responsibilities are shared between other members of the house, she said — typically, teams have five or six DGRs.“I loved dancing so much last year, and we had really good DGRs last year who made my dancing memorable,” Sons said. “I wanted to help other girls have the same wonderful experience I did.”As the marathon grows, so does its alumni base. Events are planned for volunteers and executive committee members who have graduated, and many continue to raise money.IU alumna Sarah Franz said she participated in IUDM each year she spent at IU — first as a dancer and later as an executive member. She now lives in Bloomington and said she tries to help whenever she’s needed.“We have an alumni board, but the organization prides itself on being totally student-run, so the alumni are really just a support network for the student leaders,” Franz said.In the end, many volunteers said the level of involvement isn’t as important as being involved in the first place.“Since I graduated, that love for the hospital didn’t go away,” she said. “It’s a really big family that extends even beyond IU.”
(11/08/10 4:43am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>About 70 members of Kappa Delta spent hours working on 19 banners last week — one for each sorority on campus — to help kick off the first annual Kappa Delta Confidence Week.Erin Sexton, junior and vice president of public relations for Kappa Delta, initiated the new campaign, which used visual signs and chalking to promote confidence in women.“It’s kind of a small way to make a big statement,” Sexton said.KD Confidence Week was organized by the women of Kappa Delta. Although the week itself was not a nationally-recognized event, Sexton said the meaning behind it is part of a bigger, national campaign — the Kappa Delta Confidence Coalition. Because Kappa Delta supports the Girl Scouts of the USA as one of its main philanthropies, promoting confidence among women has been instrumental in the sorority’s philosophy.“We work with fifth- and sixth-grade girls on building self-confidence and self-esteem because middle school is a really hard time,” said junior Brittany Sutton, Girl Scout chairwoman for Kappa Delta. “The banners were a good way to promote confidence around IU’s campus because, especially with sororities, we sometimes have a negative connotation.”Kappa Delta also chalked and spread the message throughout campus to send messages to all women to make their day a little brighter, Sexton said.“I think this has been the start of something great,” Sexton said. “People have been intrigued by it. We’ve gotten a ton of feedback. It’s gotten people talking.”Sexton said the sorority simply focused on getting the message out and did not raise money or organize any events. Sexton said the women of her sorority are already talking about how to expand the campaign, making it more involved and the message more widespread for the week in 2011.“I thought it was nice to see the banners,” said sophomore and member of Alpha Omicron Pi Stephanie Kohls. “It shows the greek community is together — each chapter has the same values.”
(11/05/10 2:41am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When a student pledges a sorority or fraternity in college, he or she is a member forever, and alumni relations are an integral part of greek life.In the 1950s, Judy Daerr graduated from IU early, moved out of the Pi Beta Phi house and started a family. Life became busy, she said, but she always tried to be supportive of her sorority.“It’s important in any system that there are people who have done this before,” Daerr said. “That doesn’t mean they are always right, but it’s about what you, as an alum, can do. It’s give and take, but there is always that connection with the chapter.”Now her children are grown and she is retired, she said she tries to give more time and attention to the white house on Third Street. Though she served as the president of the alumni club, now she helps the women with recruitment, assists in renovations of the house and remains in touch with dozens of Pi Phi pledge classes.“It’s nice to meet the women, talk with them and see them growing up and managing well,” Daerr said. Alumni relations vary with each chapter, but many elect officers to specifically to serve as liaisons between alumni and active members by writing newsletters, keeping in touch with alumni, welcoming members back to campus and helping active members understand the chapter’s history.“You help alumni get out of it what they want while keeping the house (on track),” said junior Scott Agness, alumni relations chair of Phi Kappa Psi. “Alumni want to know if the house is in good standing, if the traditions are still in tact and what kind of interests we have.”Agness said Phi Kappa Psi alumni do a lot for active members, sponsoring leadership seminars, serving as mentors for brothers and more.“Little things make big differences,” Agness said. “They’re always asking what we need.”And alumni have been a driving force behind Alpha Delta Phi’s establishment at IU. Founded last semester, the colony has been “adopted” by alumni across the country who are teaching the men about the fraternity’s philosophy, traditions and standards.Sophomore and the fraternity President Steve Ross said though they do not have a direct tie to IU, alums are excited about forming a chapter here.“It’s a difference of perspective,” Ross said. “The idea of having a new chapter at a Big Ten school like this have the alumni motivated to help us out.”But what this also means is it will be a couple decades before Alpha Delta Phi has an established alumni base at IU.“Once we actually have IU Alpha Delta alums, we’ll have to develop that base and make sure it stays strong,” Ross said. “It’s going to be challenging, but in some ways it’s an advantage because we get to build the culture of alumni involvement almost seamlessly from graduation.”
(11/03/10 2:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Freshman Marlo Niverson came to IU with a negative opinion of greek life. But with just a month left until recruitment officially begins, she said she’s now nervous.Niverson is just one of the many freshmen and sophomore women registered to participate in sorority recruitment this year.It’s an elaborate process, beginning with a month-long registration window that ended Sunday. Now, pre-recruitment events dot the social calendars of current and potential members.The Panhellenic Association is sponsoring several informative events about what it means to be greek at IU.“I think it’s important for the girls, especially, because so many girls go through recruitment and so many people have so many preconceived notions about recruitment, to hear about recruitment and see what greek life is really about,” said Ellen Sweeney, senior and Director of Recruitment Counselors — Rho Gammas.Niverson, who had scheduling conflicts during both the “Greek Opportunities for Women” and “Greek Means” informative events that served as bookends of the registration timeline, said she feels like she has learned a lot about greek life in the last month.“A lot of the girls were really nice. I had a lot of fun with them, and a lot of them are in the major I’m interested in,” Niverson said. “That pushes me towards wanting to rush. It’s a definite plus.”Freshman Jennifer McIntosh, however, is a legacy and attended pre-recruitment events at several houses. Hours before registration closed, she decided she wasn’t rushing.The pre-recruitment events — whether it was dinner at a house, taking an informal tour or watching television — almost convinced her otherwise.“The entire time I was really iffy about it,” McIntosh said. “Once I started doing some of the pre-rush stuff, I really enjoyed it and could totally see myself in that setting, but once I started learning about expectations and rules, it weaned me off.”Though McIntosh said the more informative meetings are helpful, they do not answer everything.“In certain settings, there are always those questions you’re scared to ask,” she said.And that mentality, Sweeney said, is why so many different opportunities for guidance exist to help women through the process.“They’ve always had ‘Greek Opportunities for Women,’” Sweeney said. “It was really helpful, the point where I realized I wanted join a sorority for sure. I saw how happy everyone who was there representing sororities seemed.”Pre-recruitment activities culminated with the registration process. The next month will be spent preparing the houses and women for recruitment.All women who registered will soon be introduced to their Rho Gammas — unaffiliated members of sororities who counsel the women through the actual recruitment process.The Rho Gammas are the final piece of support the Panhellenic Association offers women before bid day.“Go through the first round of recruitment because that’s a really good way to see all the chapters,” Sweeney said. “Just be yourself, and you’ll end up happy with whatever you decide.”
(11/01/10 3:08am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Kim Novak, director of Student and Campus Community Development at Arizona State University, stopped in Bloomington this weekend to talk about bystander intervention in the greek community.Novak, a risk management specialist who has visited IU in the past, defined a bystander as “someone who witness a problem behavior and does not do something about it.” Her visit Thursday and Friday, coordinated by the Interfraternity Council of IU, addressed the issue and how it related specifically to the greek system.“Taking risks is part of college life, but let’s not talk anymore about getting rid of the risks in fraternities and sororities,” Novak said during her discussion Thursday. “Let’s talk about managing it, and let’s ultimately start to talk about our obligations to take better care of each other.”IFC Vice President of Risk Management Justin Shukas, who helped coordinate Novak’s visit, said students are typically responsive to what she says.“These are not the most exciting topics, but the one thing that separates Novak from other speakers is that she is able to better relate to people and allow them to talk about their real issues,” he said.While the issues may not be the most exciting, Shukas said, they are applicable.“We can apply bystander intervention to so many different topics, such as hazing or alcohol use,” he said.And bystander intervention, both Novak and greek members said, is not a problem limited to the greek community. Shukas said he hopes talking about these issues will influence how the campus behaves overall.Junior and President of Kappa Sigma Drew Morris said he attended all of Novak’s sessions and plans to incorporate her information into chapter meetings.“Novak knows exactly what’s going on,” Morris said. “She’s actually out to help us. She wants us to have fraternity houses at Indiana. She wants fraternities and sororities to continue and to be prevalent.”Senior and President of Delta Gamma Elizabeth Billman said bystander intervention is an element of her sorority’s new member training but that sessions with risk-management specialists are important because they help keep the greek community working together for a common goal.“It’s not always an easy thing because the people who go to these things aren’t always the problem people. So it’s training for the executives, who can make sure the rules are being followed,” Billman said.