Greek Gazette Winter 2009
Compiled by Melissa Dvorsky, WPA Director of Publications and Promotions
delta zeta by Mary Quinn This Valentine’s Day, the women of Delta Zeta sent their love and well wishes overseas to a United States Army Platoon thanking them for their service. Valentines were just the beginning of a greater project; the ladies of Delta Zeta have since adopted the soldiers for the duration of their time in Iraq and will be sending letters and care packages to them. Kelley Ward, a member of Delta Zeta, encouraged her sorority sisters to participate in this project and has a personal connection to the soldiers. Her biological sister’s significant other is one of the men serving in the platoon. “This project meant so much to my sister and to my family that I wanted my Delta Zeta sisters to be a part of it as well,” Ward said. Ward added that she hopes her sorority’s efforts will brighten their days for the next year.
alpha omicron pi by Lindsay Castle With experience as an Ohio University Fashion Associates member, Fashion Forum Newsletter writer, Student Design Chair and model for Mom’s Weekend Fashion Show, it comes as no surprise that Alpha Omicron Pi Senior, Rachel Szabo, is headed for a full-time career in fashion. All of her hard work has landed her an internship in Los Angeles, where she is a full-time intern at BCBGMAXAZRIA. Szabo is part of a team in charge of buying dresses and swimwear for the various brands the company owns in the United States, Canada and Europe. In order to get this internship, Szabo first talked with Laura Nedveski, a Sigma Kappa alumnae and former BCBGMAXAZRIA intern, who helped her prepare for the interview and internship. Szabo’s internship proves that hard work and dedication pay off, and that using your fellow Greeks has tremendous advantages.
upcoming greek events 3.1.2009 : New Membership Retreat in Baker Center 3.2.2009: International Badge Day 3.5.2009: Canned Castles All Day in Baker Center 3.7.2009: March Fratness 4.3.2009: Chi Omega Impact 5.3.2009 - 5.9.2009: GREEK WEEK 5.18.2009: Greek Awards Banquet 5.25.2009 - 5.29.2009: NPHC Week 5.29.2009: NPHC Step Show
alpha delta pi by Jessica Pike Our former President, Sarah Miller, spent her summer break in South Africa student teaching. She had planned to come back to America at the end of the summer looking forward to the start of her senior year. However, Sarah did not end up flying home August 30th as she had planned. Half way through her student teaching, she met with two missionaries who were able to expose her to a part of the world she had never encountered and her life as she knew it was turned upside down. Within two weeks of volunteering, she saw young women and men on their death bed with AIDS, babies abandoned in dumpsters, tiny homes turned into orphanages overflowing with some 100 children and children roaming around in rags. The more she went into the townships, the more her heart desired to be with the children. “Choosing to stay in South Africa was one of the most difficult decisions I have made in my life, but through a series of crazy events there I was volunteering and amongst some of the most incredible people I have ever met,” Sarah said. Sarah returned home to Ohio December 2008 after being in South Africa for 26 weeks. Sarah volunteering with children in Africa.
alpha gamma delta sigma kappa
by Kathryn Sulzmann Winter Quarter has been the quarter of opportunities for several of the women of Alpha Gamma Delta. Jen Smith, Kayla McIntyre, Ashley Wilhelm, and Kayla Maas have all decided to leave the town we all love for ten weeks and spend this bitterly cold, Athens winter in different parts of the country and world. Kayla McIntyre, a junior, is getting a taste of the European lifestyle studying abroad in Wales, and has even been working for the Welsh government! Jen Smith and Ashley Wilhelm, a junior and senior respectively, decided to study abroad in sunny Mérida, Mexico. Kayla Maas, a senior, graduated early to accept an internship in Nashville, Tennessee. The Alpha Gamma Delta Chapter is very proud of and excited for our sisters that have left this quarter, and we wish them all the best of luck.
pi beta phi by Joni Morris Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Leanne Ford created her own funky clothing line called Punkster, based out of Long Beach, California. Punkster is a line of handcrafted and vintage “onesies” devoted to babies. With catch phrases such as “I crawl the line” and “Whino,” it’s obvious why Sheryl Crow, Kate Hudson and Sarah Jessica Parker dress their little ones in Punkster. Majoring in integrated retail communications and fashion promotion at Ohio University, Leanne created a clothing line called Mess and Mod during a quarter of independent study that OU offers. Leanne took that work ethic to Long Beach, where Punkster is located.
2009 MARCH FRATNESS 3 on 3 Basketball Tourn ament
3.7.2009 Open to all... SIGN UP NOW In Baker 330 $20 per team, $12 for shirt (optional)
by Lauren Zimmerman and Catherine Caldwell The woman of Sigma Kappa are very devoted to their school work, none moreso than Catie O’Neill, a junior Public Advocacy major who dreams of being a lawyer. She will be taking the LSATs in June and is applying to many colleges on the East Coast, such as Harvard, Georgetown, and Seton Hall. After law school, Catie hopes to become a U.S. Senator. Catie is not only heavily involved in her sorority, but she is also the Public Relations representative for her Pre-Law Fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta. She is even an Ohio University Tour Guide Coordinator. Along with all her extracurriculars, Catie has maintained a 4.0 GPA. All the women of Sigma Kappa are very proud of Catie and wish her the best of luck with everything!
Greek Week Theme: THE 2009 GREEK OLYMPICS! Greek Week Teams: Great Britain: ΑΔΠ, ΦΚΤ, ΦΔΘ Jamaica: ΑΓΔ, ΠΚΑ, ΚΑΨ, ΠΚΦ China: ΑΟΠ, ΔΥ, ΣΠ, ΦΚΘ Greece: ΑΞΔ, ΣΦΕ, ΛΧΑ, ΑΚΑ Kenya: ΧΩ, FIJI, ΣΓΡ, ΣΛΓ Italy: ΔΓ, ΦΚΨ, ΘΧ Mexico: ΔΖ, ΒΘΠ, ΔΣΘ Australia: ΠΒΦ, ΔΤΔ, ACACIA Canada: ΣΚ, ΑΕΠ, ΦΒΣ
alpha xi delta
Photo taken of Catie and her sister.
chi omega by Morgan Sanders Chi Omega will be involved in an activity through GAMMA called, “the hook-up” that helps teach Greeks about sexual assault. It was created by a member of Phi Kappa Tau and a member of Delta Zeta in hopes of informing Greeks about sexual assault. The presentation will have more information for Greek life about sexual assault and methods to prevent it. Chi Omega will even be hosting a pizza party afterwards for all attendees. Chi Omega is so lucky to be able to take part in this program and very excited to learn more about this topic.
by Grace Naugle Alpha Xi Delta has a lifelong commitment to helping children in need. The national philanthropic focus is Alpha Xi Delta Chooses Children, which is an organization centered on fundraising for children and families in need in the local community. Caitlin Reagan, a junior, led a toy drive for children and families staying in the local Ronald McDonald house. A close friend of Caitlin’s, Jacob Gurreri, recently passed away at the Ronald McDonald house. His story served as inspiration for this year’s “Fuzzie Football,” which raised $6,500 dollars for the Ronald McDonald House in Jacob’s name. Alpha Xi Delta sold roses and carnations for Valentine’s Day to help Trimble Elementary, a local school, send their students on field trips. Trimble Elementary is unable to send their students on field trips due to budget cuts. As a result of Alpha Xi Delta’s effort, Trimble Elementary now has a field trip fund for students. Alpha Xi Delta will continue to their commitment to helping children and hope to work more with the Greek Community to make a difference in the lives of others.
delta gamma by Lindsay Hahn Anchor Splash is a successful way for Delta Gammas to raise money and awareness for our philanthropy, Service for Sight. It is a weeklong event, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Anchor Splash, penny wars, and the main event, a water competition held in the Aquatic Center. Last year, over 12 teams participated in our water wars. Anchor Splash 2008 was a great success because it was the first year that other sororities participated. It even raised over $4000 for charity. Although it took quite a lot of planning, coordinator Susannah Sachdeva admitted, “It was stressful at times but totally worth it! My favorite part was probably using that megaphone. I love megaphones.” This year’s Anchor Splash will be held during spring quarter. Delta Gamma hopes to 2008 Anchor Splash judges: Elizabeth Van Huffel, involve more fraternities, sororities, and other organizations on campus! Kate Shicks, Veronica Norton and Susannah Sachdeva
Ohio University’s Interfraternity Council Off to a good start
by Andrew D. Urban Vice President of Public Relations (IFC) The IFC has been bustling with action this Winter Quarter, beginning with a retreat to West Virginia at the beginning of the quarter. The ten new IFC officers set goals and discussed possible ways to improve Greek Life on Ohio University’s campus. The IFC begins the quarter with ten new officers: President, Corey Webb; Executive Vice President, Andrew Rehs; Vice President of Recruitment, Charles E. Wirtz Jr.; Vice President of Public Relations, Andrew Urban; Vice President of Finance and Administration, Tanvir Sattar; Vice President of Risk Management, Josh Smith; Vice President of Athletics, Mark Bloom; Vice President of Scholarship, Scott Slivken; Vice President of Philanthropy, Alex Lunka, and Vice President of Programming, Michael Impagliozza. In addition to the West Virginia retreat, officers from the Women’s Panhellenic Association (WPA), National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), and the IFC attended the Mid-American Greek Council Association (MGCA) Leadership Conference in St. Louis. IFC officers Corey Webb, Charles Wirtz, and Mike Impagliozza attended, participating in discussions with other
Greek governing councils from all over the country to learn new ideas and methods for the betterment of Greek Life. With the continued vision of the expansion of Greek Life on Ohio University’s Campus, the IFC welcomed the newest member of the Greek Community, Sigma Pi Fraternity. Recruiting 48 men to be founding fathers, Sigma Pi has inspired many of us to further our efforts with our own chapter’s recruitment. Furthermore, IFC welcomed a total of 144 new Greeks this Winter Quarter. Another bustling part of fraternity life was philanthropy. Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) and Delta Tau Delta, teamed up after cancer struck both a Fiji brother, and the Delt’s house mother. The brothers of both fraternities teamed up for “Cut for Cancer,” in which each donation of five dollars would give the donor a free buzz cut, courtesy of Regis Hair Salon, to support those affected by cancer. “Cut for Cancer” raised a total of $1,600, which was split between a donation to the American Cancer Society, and to Delt’s House Mother Jackie Sayre. Additionally, the men of Phi Kappa Theta braved the frigid waters of Dow Lake at Stroud’s
Fiji and Delt brothers pictured with Jackie Sayre as they shed their hair for Cut for Cancer Run for their second annual “Polar Bear Plunge,” which raised $16,000 for their philanthropy, the Special Olympics. IFC Athletics is also in full swing as teams prepare for the 2009 March Fratness Basketball Tournament. This year the competition opened up to the entire campus, allowing everyone to take part, even those outside of the Greek Community. Furthermore, the race for the IFC Intramural Sports Trophy is heating up, and Spring Quarter games and matches will decide which chapter will bring home the trophy this year.