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(02/01/10 5:31am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Beta Theta Pi did not offer Sen. Richard Lugar a bid the first time he rushed at Denison University.Crushed as he said he was, he got a second chance when he was offered a bid that following spring. Since then, his life has taken him far from that small Ohio campus. First there was a stint in the U.S. Navy, and then he was elected to the local school board. He was the mayor of Indianapolis and has been a U.S. senator for 33 years.When Beta’s president, sophomore Matt Edwards, introduced Lugar as the speaker of Saturday’s initiation dinner, he said the senator represented everything for which Beta brothers should strive.“Tonight, we have someone with us who has taken the principles of Beta Theta Pi and fashioned them into his decision making with his family, with his state and with this country,” Edwards said.This is precisely why Edwards wanted to invite Lugar to the initiation dinner. Praising Lugar for his continued loyalty to Beta, Edwards said Lugar was someone with whom many of the brothers were familiar. Edwards said Lugar’s presence at the initiation would help make the rituals mean more and put the ideals of their brotherhood into a wider, more realistic perspective. But Lugar was more humble. In his 35-minute speech, the senator mixed his personal life with his professional one, talking with a sense of humor, about minor successes and failures and the fraternity that has been the foundation for it all. Lugar talked about the importance of going greek, of what it means to be a brother and what it means, most of all, to be a Beta. “I am hopeful that each one of you as undergraduate Betas will entertain at some point in your lives to take on the burden of public service,” Lugar said.Perhaps Lugar’s dedication to and understanding of Beta brotherhood stems from his involvement in reforming it. Lugar spoke about the decline in Beta chapters and greek life across the nation.When approached to improve the faltering fraternity, Lugar did so through the Men of Principle initiative, which placed academics and community involvement back in the forefront. Though Lugar said it was difficult to watch so many Beta chapters collapse, including his alma mater at Denison, he found reason to celebrate with IU’s chapter, the Pi chapter.“This is big, believe me,” Lugar said. “The facts of life are that this kind of chapter, and then with this grade point average that you have attained, is even more massive an achievement. It’s a tremendously exciting situation.”Beta alumnus, George Bledsoe graduated from IU in 1962 but said he returns to Beta events and initiation dinners when his schedule permits. Bledsoe said he liked how Lugar reached the new members with the stories about his past. “I loved the whole evening,” Bledsoe said. “I loved seeing all these young men and having Lugar here. It was enlightening.”Sophomore Mike Caldwell, who had been initiated earlier Saturday, said he walked away from the dinner with a clearer understanding of what it means to be a Beta.“It was inspiring,” Caldwell said. “I want to take an active role in the house, through leadership positions and just remind everyone everyday that that’s why we’re here.
(01/27/10 4:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Behind philanthropies, pair parties, brotherhoods and sisterhoods and friendly chapter rivalries, there are executive councils that help ensure the greek community behaves as just that: a community.Councils like the IU Panhellenic Association, which represents all 19 sororities, and the Interfraternity Council that oversees IU’s 28 fraternities, focus on risk management and communication between the houses, campus and chapters.“It’s beneficial,” said Tia Banayote, vice president of communication. “Basically, these councils oversee all the chapters and guide them and challenge them to improve, which makes each one of our members and each one of our chapters better.”Each executive council is composed of seven different members, all of whom have different responsibilities. Slated by outgoing officers and elected by the chapters, the officers responsibilities began in January.“Eighteen percent of the campus is Greek,” IFC President Ryan Duerring said. “So I think the main thing for IFC is to bring everyone together and get everyone on the same level. So even if there are rivalries, we have to look at from the standpoint we’re a community; we need to work together.”While the officers said rivalries and competitions keep greek life exciting, they emphasize the importance of respecting each other for their successes. Once-a-week gavel meetings, which are open to the community, allow an outlet for open communication, while Greek Awards are a more entertaining way to recognize chapters for their achievements. “It’s one of the few opportunities when you’re completely running a self-governing organization,” Duerring said. Though these officers took their positions at the beginning of this semester, none are alien to responsibility. All have been chapter presidents or chapter officers before. But they said they are excited about the year that awaits and are united by creating a sense of community.“I’m looking forward to growing by leading and looking at the greek system through a bigger picture perspective,” Maggie Wittman, PHA President said. “And also helping individual chapter presidents grow and see that bigger picture as well.”
(01/26/10 5:08am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity was founded on seven core values, but the brothers of IU’s chapter are focusing on one in particular this year – service and stewardship. Fraternity member and sophomore Jordan Fromm has organized a spring break trip to Mandeville, La., a suburb of New Orleans, where he and eight brothers will help build homes for Habitat For Humanity.“Our treasurer, our philanthropy chairman and our president are all supportive of this endeavor,” Fromm said. “It’s going to be an exciting trip.”Fromm said the initial response to the idea was overwhelming. Though there were nine spots to fill, 25 brothers expressed interest, with Fromm ultimately giving precedence to the first eight men who responded. But even those who stay behind will be offering support. Chapter dues will cover food, travel, housing and project costs, which is estimated to be $150 per person.Fromm, who is coordinating the trip through the Collegiate Challenge, a youth program of Habitat for Humanity that matches volunteers with work sites, said this project stemmed from his involvement building houses for local Habitat for Humanity chapters and previous construction work on church trips.“One of the greatest things you can do for a family is give them a place,” Fromm said. “You’re actually on-site making it happen. We want to say we did something really cool, and for our community and upheld our values.”The nine members who are making the twelve-hour drive to Louisiana will spend four nine-hour days on the houses. They will be building and constructing everything from basements and foundations to the plumbing of bathroom sinks.“The affiliates get a boost of volunteers, which helps them progress on the work side but also really re-energizes them,” said Nick Hericks, volunteer engagement specialist for the Collegiate Challenge. “You get a bunch of students in there, who are really excited to work, and it just helps motivate everyone.”Fromm and junior fraternal educator Matt Suerth said they hope this trip and the excitement surrounding it will offer a renewed focus on philanthropy and the importance of community overall.“This trip has really helped put back into the forefront our commitment to community into every member’s mind,” Suerth said. “It’s something we can’t forget in order to be a well-run chapter.”
(01/13/10 4:21am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A new event is being incorporated into the week-long Bid Week celebration for sororities. The Inspiration Rally will be divided into two sessions at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. today in Alumni Hall at the Indiana Memorial Union.Traditionally, each chapter would plan a unique week of activities for its members.This year, however, the IU Panhellenic Association is sponsoring an inspirational rally for all of the new sisters to introduce them to the Panhellenic community.It creates a sense of a bigger, over-arching greek community, 2010 PHA president junior Maggie Wittman said. The event is designed to be both informative and celebratory.“It’s a pep rally for the greek community,” Wittman said. “We want to remind the girls that they’re not only becoming chapter members but they are entering the greek community as a whole.” Chapter presidents and executives will be in attendance.IU Bloomington Provost and Executive Vice President Karen Hanson will also speak and there will be presentations from organizations such as Greeks Going Green, Offbeat All Greek and Ladies First. “It should be really crowded,” Wittman said. “But it will be a really exciting atmosphere.”
(10/30/09 9:09pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Throughout the past year, 9 million people have visited ChaCha’s Web site viewing 13 million pages and asking the service 170 million questions, via text message and Internet.Such popularity has earned the Carmel, Ind., based company a ranking by Quantcast.com in the top 200 most-visited Web sites in the world. It marks a milestone for the thriving company, but also is significant to the state of Indiana and its economic development. ChaCha, a site that provides its customers with a unique and personalized search experience is currently ranked 163 and is the first Indiana company to have ever ranked among the 200 Web sites. “We’ve been flying up the charts,” said Cat Fowler, vice president of marketing and client care for ChaCha. “We’re like the smart friend. Our service is very viral, and what we have been doing is super interesting to people.” ChaCha, which was not even ranked a year ago and only began ranking among the top 500 Web sites in May, has now surpassed Web sites such as wsj.com and usatoday.com. Through surveys, ChaCha matches its clientele with specific, pertinent advertisements and discounts, Fowler said. Statewide, such advertising has helped bring attention, and business, to a local economy struggling during these difficult economic times. “Indiana has been trying to increase their visibility in technology and developing technology so ChaCha illustrates that we have that ability,” Jeff Burt, president of the Hamilton County Alliance for economic development, said.Both Burt and Fowler said that they hope more companies will move to or be founded in Indiana, attracting a new population and, more importantly, keeping talented college graduates in the state. “If we can grow this thing like we think we can,” Fowler said. “We can offer jobs which will be really beneficial in this unique economy.” Burt is more reserved than Fowler in his optimism. He thinks technological growth in Indiana will be gradual. But he cites life sciences companies like Biotech and Marcadia, in addition to ChaCha, as proof that progress is happening. “For me, it’s on a personal, case-by-case basis,” sophomore and Kelley student Jaymie Wahlen said. “But if I find jobs here that appeal to me, then of course I’m going to stay.”