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Volume 95 | Issue 50
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ntdaily.com
The Student Newspaper of the University of North Texas
Greek organizations strive to give back Group promotes disability awareness BRIANNE TOLJ Design Editor
Pi Kappa Phi, UNT’s newest fraternity, is presenting the first Push Week in hopes of raising awareness and money for people with disabilities. From Monday to Thursday, the fraternity members said, they are aiming to engage the UNT and greek community through a series of competitive events. “It’s a great opportunity to help people, who normally get overlooked,” said Lucas Babbit, a radio, television and film sophomore and president of Pi Kappa Phi. “It’s just a really amazing eye opener. There are a lot of people that need help.” Pi Kappa Phi is the only fraternity to own and operate its own philanthropy, Push America, with the purpose to “build leaders of tomorrow by serving people with disabilities today.” Fully supported by fraternity members, Push America is providing six team-event programs, such as Journey of Hope, where 81 undergraduate and a lumni members cycle from Sa n Fra ncisco, Calif., to Washington, D.C., and Build America, which is a six-week summer program where members will construct accessible options that support people with disabilities across the nation. “It is important that we all find a way to learn more about each other, to have greater respect for each other and to raise money for causes that are beneficial to the community,” said Jaime Blanton, coordinator of Parent Programs at UNT and Pi Kappa Phi’s staff adviser. Locally, registered groups like Kappa Kappa Gamma and Delta Gamma will take to the campus green with Pi Kappa Phi for four days to compete in Quarter Wars. Groups ga i n poi nt s for every quarter received from a student, yet any coin other than a quarter will decrease their points. Each team will design and create a color poster board tying in an interesting fact about people with disabilities.
Three fraternities, sorority unite to cut hair for cancer BY A LEX CALAMS
stupid,” said Sean Carter, a Sigma Chi member and a mechanical Theta Chi expanded its engineering freshman. “Even second-annual philanthropy though there’s always going to be effort, Cut the Chi’s, to include grudges between frats because suppor t f rom f rater n it ies of things like that, we really just Lambda Chi Alpha, Sigma Chi wanted to come together for a and sorority Chi Omega for extra good cause and show that we’re help earning money to donate to all still brothers in the end.” Carter said that the fratera nonprofit organization. Wigs For Kids uses donated nities joined forces to rebuild hair and money to provide wigs greek relations. A ndrew Va nnerson, t he for children affected by chemophilanthropy’s organizer, said therapy. “This year, some of the frater- the alliance was also formed to PHOTO BY MARIA WEBSTER/PHOTOGRAPHER nities have experienced some provide as many donations as Theta Chi, Lambda Chi and Sigma Chi fraternities set up their philanthropy on the campus green asking for donations for bad publicity from mistakes possible for the nonprofit. the charity Wigs for Kids. “We’re trying to do things where someone did something bigger and better this year,” said Vannerson, a Spanish and emergency administration and planning junior. “Last year, we raised $1,800, but because more fraternities are on board now, our goal is to raise $2,400 this time around.” Supporters last year raised $850 to shave marketing sophomore Theta Chi member Ca meron Jea n’s A f ro, but Vannerson said this year Jean will not participate. “It costs a thousand dollars to make one of the wigs,” said economics junior Sigma Chi PHOTO BY ALEX SCOTT/PHOTOGRAPHER member Yousuf Al Khan. “So Members of the Pi Kappa Pi fraternity are raising funds on campus for Push this year, we’re trying to raise America, a nonprofit organization that serves people with disabilities. enough money for at least two wigs.” Donations will be accepted Kappa Phi table on the campus The posters are displayed all in front of the University Union week on the campus green green for 20 team points. on the campus green through Participating groups are and in the University Union. Thursday to “save or shave” Members from each group eligible for three checks worth the heads of those involved, will present their posters at 2 $100 for first place, $50 for Vannerson said. He said it would cost $5 to donate toward shaving half of a volunteer’s head and $10 for the full head. “If someone’s girlfriend doesn’t want them to shave their head or something like that, they can donate to save it,” Carter said. Kellie Hill, an international —Jaime Blanton studies sophomore and Chi Parent Programs coordinator Omega member, said that she PHOTO BY ALEX SCOTT/PHOTOGRAPHER will donate 10 to 12 inches of From Monday to Thursday, the fraternity members said, they are aiming to en- her hair Thursday. “I really wanted to do it last p.m. today to a panel of judges second place and $25 for third, gage the UNT and greek community through a series of competitive events that year, but I was too nervous,” from different UNT offices. all made out to the winner’s will raise awareness in the UNT community. Hill said. “I’ve been growing Points will be added to the chosen philanthropy. my hair out for a year now Wor k i n g c l o s e l y w i t h their daily school routine in that have wheelchairs and groups’ total for the final three though, and I’m ready now. It’s t he O f f ic e of D i s a bi l it y wheelchairs. posters. use them regularly,” Blanton for a wonderful cause — we’re Students have the option of Accommodation, Pi Kappa “What we’re trying to do said. “It’s important for us offering relief to children experipurchasing a Push Week T-shirt Phi will host The Pushing for is to raise awareness about all to understand some of encing negative effects of cancer and Thursday, group members Awareness event, a member’s the access issues that are still the challenges that we face and also raising cancer awarewea r ing t heir specia li zed only event, which will include existing on the UNT campus that other people don’t think ness at the same time.” T-shirt can sign in at the Pi six members going through and have empathy for people about.” Staff Writer
“It’s important for us all to understand some of the challenges that we face that other people don’t think about.”
Program helps find jobs for those with disabilities BY STACY POWERS
program is going to do.” Businesses will benefit from the program as well. They will not Denton job seekers with disabilhave to spend money or take the ities will have a service to assist time to go through the process of them in finding the right job to fit screening and training people. their skills and abilities starting They will also not have to worry today at the open house to launch if they found the right person for JOB FIT. the job. With a $112,000 grant from “We do that at no cost to the Meadows Foundation, UNT’s the employers,” said Elizabeth department of rehabilitation, El Aiady, a business services social work and addictions was coordinator. “It usually costs able to provide the service. employers money to get that kind “We are finding good jobs for PHOTO BY AGNES WYSOWSKI/PHOTOGRAPHER of service.” good people,” said Martha Garber, UNT has partnered with rehadirector of the department. “It’s Chairperson Linda Holloway and director Martha Garber are apart of the dereally fitting the person to what partment of rehabilitations, social work, and addictions, and are in charge of bilitation providers and counthey can do, what they want to the open house launching of JOB FIT that will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. today in selors through the rehabilitation master’s program in the past, do and what job is out there in Chilton Hall 218. but this program takes it a step the community that makes that “I am so happy UNT is doing further. employment and disability. match.” Lisa Argo, a rehabilitation something like this because “The project was started to The department will use its rehabilitation students to help studies senior, is doing her it’s a service that this county bridge the gap between the with the program while teaching practicum with JOB FIT and said really needs,” she said. “These number of people with disabilities them how to match people with she is anxious to start making a people can work. They just who need customized employthe right jobs. They will gain first- difference and help people find need a little help getting to ment services in North Texas work, and t hat’s what t his and the relatively few providers hand experience in working with jobs. Contributing Writer
offering the services in the area,” Graber said. “This project takes the university, the local community and Texas to that next level. In JOB FIT, the training and the education move from a theoretical base to a practical hands-on application of services.” The Meadows Foundation members said they chose to participate in this program because they wanted to help those with disabilities be successful and gain self-esteem. “We believe that the JOB FIT program at UNT will provide supportive employment services to persons with mental illnesses in the North Texas area,” said Bruce Esterline, the Meadows Foundation vice president for grants in an e-mail. “The alignment of vocational services with medical treatment will ensure that multiple needs of program participants are met and outcomes of successful employ-
ment are improved.” The open house launching the start of JOB FIT will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. today in Chilton Hall 218. “The open house gives us an opportunity to host our funders and introduce our new project to the community, including the community resource and service providers who will recommend people to us for services,” Garber said. Those expected to attend the open house include representatives of the Meadows Foundation, members of the Regional Directors, professional staff of the department of rehabilitation and assisted service, UNT faculty, board and staff, and other community service providers in the area. People from the department, including students, will give guided tours of the suite where the services will be provided.