A blog about the Beta Eta Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega, by/for the sisters; Alumnae & parent.
Sponsored by the ΞΩΞ (Xi Omega Xi) Beta Eta Virtual Alumnae Chapter
Today, we celebrate 82 years of Sisterhood within the Beta Eta Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega at Florida State University!
*** The Founding of Beta Eta Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega
On March 24th, 1926 a group of women organized themselves into a local sorority, selecting for its name Delta Phi. After receiving recognition from the Faculty Committee on Student Affairs, Delta Phi was admitted into the Panhellenic Association of the Florida State College for Women, at the regular Panhellenic meeting on May 21, 1926. This organization was formed with the view of petitioning for the establishment of a chapter of Alpha Chi Omega at this college. Its aims were to promote a closer friendship amount its members; to maintain a high scholastic standing; to encourage interest in fine arts, and to make the sorority of the highest ideals. The first petition of Alpha Chi Omega was sent May 1926.
The petition read as follows:
The members of Delta Phi have shown much interest in many fields of campus activities and have held various offices. The governing factor on the campus is the College Government Association conducted by the students in cooperation with the faculty. The offices held by members of Delta Phi are: President of Judiciary, Freshman Commission of C.F.E, Class Representative to Senate, Auditing Committee, House President, Vice-House President, Nominating Committee of College elections, and Delegate to various College Government Committees. The Y.M.C.A. is a very important organization on this campus. All girls of Delta Phi have identified themselves as active members and some have held offices of: President of Y.W.C.A., Freshman Cabinet, Large Cabinet, Y.W.C.A. Committees and delegates to various Y.W.C.A. conventions. Delta Phis have attained recognition in athletics by playing on class, odd and even, and varsity teams; also by being class athletic mangers; members of the F club (those making varsity) and of the Life Saving Corps. The amount of honorary fraternities and organizations at F.S.C.W. Delta Phi has been represented in are the following: Phi Kappa Phi, Chi Delta Phi, Alpha Chi Alpha, Beta Phi Theta, Phi Alpha Theta, Torch Bearers (petitioning Motor Board), Scientific Society, and Orchestra. Prominent positions on the Flambeau (college paper) Flastcowom (college annual) and Press Association have been held by Delta Phis; many have also taken part in various college festivals.
The above petition along with a formal petition book that included Florida State College for Women statistics and history, and pictures and stats on each of the Delta Phi women and pledges was sent to Alpha Chi Omega for review.
In January of 1928, the news came that the formal petition had been accepted and twenty-eight Delta Phis shouted with joy! On March 29, 1929 the formal chapter installation was held, and Beta Eta became the 52nd chapter of Alpha Chi Omega ***
Sharing LITB throughout the years...
1955 - Moving into the New House!
1960s - Going to Formal
1970s - Dinner at the House
1970s - Homecoming
1983 - Bid Day
1983 - Hayride
1980s - Sisterhood
1994 - Social
1998 - Semiformal
2002 - Bid Day
2008 - Chrismukkah
2010 - Bid Day
Alumnae Celebrating at Beta Eta's 75th!
Past Presidents at Beta Eta's 80th!
Beta Etas Celebrating Weddings together!
Beta Etas Celebrating Weddings together (plus a legacy)!
Our 1st Annual Beta Eta Reunion with our Virtual Alumnae Chapter, Xi Omega Xi, at Homecoming '10
It's time for our PHILANTHROPY- PAR TEE! Benefiting the Women's Refuge House, a shelter for victims of Domestic Violence Awareness..
The date is APRIL 9th so keep that weekend open.
This year we are hosting events/activities all week leading up to the big event. The schedule to date is:
Tues 4/5-Walk a Mile in her shoes @ 5pm ending at a spaghetti dinner at the house
-This will be a walk around campus(by the sorority houses) to gain attention and
awareness for DVA.
Wed 4/6- Wear DVA shirts!
Thurs 4/7- DVA Vigil at the house after dinner
Fri 4/8 -Golfers invited to lunch
Sat 4/9- PAR TEE Registration begins at 9
-Shot Gun start at 11
There will also be a tea time event on Saturday at Killearn for all moms, dads alumn, ect who want to come up but our not golfers and this wilk only be $10. It will start at 12 and hopefully be a great chance for more parents to come visit!
Sun 4/10- PAR TEA Brunch for participants. Tournament winners and contest winners will be announced and golfers are encouraged to attend 10-12!
***If anyone has any items for the silent auction
OR
***If anyone is able to get sponsors (ask your work, parents work, etc)
Originally posted in The Tripod, on March 8, 2011. and written by Alex Champoux..
In the last two issues of the Tripod, there have been articles dealing with a recent incident at Cleo - a party with a questionable title - and their message seems to be pretty straightforward. Both articles voice a disapproval of the Greek system here at Trinity College, accusing it of fostering an environment where sexism, classism, and racism can flourish. Further, in their article, the faculty questions, "What do Cleo and the rest of the fraternities want to contribute to the culture of our campus?" Especially on the tail of articles like Ben Schacht's ('05) letter (9/22/09) calling for the abolition of fraternities (tying them to hate speech and homophobia), and multiple other such condemnations of Greek life, the faculty's letter (citing 30 years of attempted abolition of the Greeks) has more power as a condemnation of Greek life and feels more like an attack than kindly parental "advice." In short, the articles in the Tripod of late have been highly critical of the Greeks on campus, and have leveled the accusation that Greeks "add nothing to campus life except for perpetual mess and incidents ranging from drunken hijinks to sexual assault." This is patently false, based on outdated ideas, popular culture portrayals, and intolerant, inflexible opponents of Greek organizations. Not only do we contribute to the campus, but we are the contributor, the fount of campus leadership, the bastion of social change.
One of the simplest and easiest ways to show that Greek organizations on campus give back to the college and surrounding community is through each organization's devotion to volunteering and fundraising. Each Greek organization on campus participates in Do-It-Day, Habitrot for Humanity, Halloween on Vernon, Take Back the Night, and Relay for Life. Kappa Kappa Gamma works with ACES (Annual Community Events Staff), Achieve Hartford!, OPMAD (Organized Parents Make A Difference), and Making Strides. Alpha Delta Phi raised over $3,000 at the last Relay for Life and helps with after-school programs like Game Night in the Hartford public school system. Pi Kappa Alpha turned in 534 hours of volunteering last semester alone. The chair of Campus Climate and Campus Outreach are both Sigma Nu brothers. Zeta Omega Eta hosts a Young Women's Leadership Forum for middle-school aged girls, and has started its own program, "Fairy Godmother" to help clothe underprivileged girls. Psi Upsilon donates the proceeds of its annual "Tropical" party to deserving charities, and donated $2,500 to the Craig Hospital Foundation last year. The Ivy Society additionally participates in National Gordie Day and often dedicates its parties to specific causes - this Halloween's party proceeds went to the Susan G. Komen Breast Foundation. Cleo also participates in ACES and Campus Climate, like other organizations, but also has affiliations with Dream Camp and ConnPIRG. Theta Delta Sigma volunteers 15-20 hours a week at the Boys and Girls Club and is involved with Zeta in the formation of the Fairy Godmother Project.
As far as campus involvement goes, members of our college's Greek organizations represent a vast majority of those in leadership positions. We have dozens of mentors, TAs, RAs, and Pride leaders. There are five Greeks on SGA, including the President, and almost a third of the people on Honor Council are Greek members. Hillel, the Interfaith House, iHouse, the Fred, Praxis, the Tripod, AASA, WRTC, EROS, ACES, Habitat for Humanity, the Writing Center, Latin Dance Team, LVL, AMSA, the Mill, TCERT, and Commserv (encompassing other groups) all have Greek members (usually multiple per group). Our members participate in every athletic activity (many are captains) and we work in student jobs all over campus - we check out your library books, we fix your computers, we serve you your coffee, we help you with your homework, we sell you your tickets at Cinestudio.
In terms of making the campus a safer, more inclusive, more tolerant place, we all try to do our part. Almost every door in Cleo has a "Safe Zone" sticker on it, welcoming the campus to the safety of its zero-intolerance house. Pi Kappa Alpha brothers are required to go to the WAGRAC for a session on gender sensitivity and language awareness before they can join (and are encouraged to continue to go back), and the Pi Kappa Alpha house enforces a zero tolerance policy on hate speech. Theta Delta Sigma is founded on the tenets of raising diversity and cultural awareness, and Zeta Omega Eta is founded to pursue activist causes and promote feminist goals.
Our organizations also provide a forum for the College to participate in things that it would not normally be able. Greek organizations are often vilified for their role in the promotion of parties, but this ability to throw parties gives us a closer connection with the campus. Because of our unique position on the edge, a position that we suffer for, we are ideal for events like Conversation Over Cocktails - a safe and fun forum (the only one I know of) where students and faculty can get together in an organized way. We host the Senior class before its various dances, host parties for other organizations like Hillel and Praxis (Pi Kappa Alpha is planning a fundraiser party with Praxis to raise money for Christmas gifts for Hartford families), and host events like Halloween on Vernon. And we host parties. As the major party centers on campus, we provide a supervised place for parties to take place. At Pi Kappa Alpha, we require five to six sober monitors at every party to ensure the safety of our students, a policy that other Greeks, like Sigma Nu, are planning to adopt. Pi Kappa Alpha also requires that people drink exclusively from our own clear cups - therefore lessening the possibility of people using date-rape drugs or of people bringing in highly alcoholic beverages like grain alcohol. Every Greek organization controls the flow of alcohol in its house, eventually cutting people off, in an attempt to protect the student body from dangerous levels of intoxication.
The professors who lodge these complaints against the fraternities and sororities of Trinity College are not looking to have their perceptions of the Greeks changed - to them, a frat is a frat, a center for misogyny and racism, for classism and elitism, for drinking and drug use. The faculty doesn't want to acknowledge the good things that our Greeks do, doesn't want to admit that the TAs and mentors that they work with every day are Greek members. Because of past anti-Greek movements by the faculty, Pi Kappa Alpha, Zeta Omega Eta, and Theta Delta Sigma are all not recognized by the school despite their activism, and probably never will achieve affiliation, not to mention the multiple African-American fraternities and sororities that have been completely forced underground. The faculty has consistently shown that it does not want to get to know the Greek organizations better, and has consistently shown that it does not know them in the first place - evidenced clearly when they said, of Cleo (50/50 male/female), "boys will be boys." When it comes down to dialogue, to using the Greeks as the invaluable resource that they are, the faculty is ready to categorically refuse collaboration because of their own prejudices, and to ignore the potential benefits of cooperation.
Our Greek organizations all require a certain standard of their members, and require that we expect more of ourselves than other students. We support each other and push each other to excel, creating an environment that encourages civic-mindedness and leadership. We instill in our members a sense of wrong and right, of tolerance, and of friendship. Nonetheless, stereotypes still plague our every foray into the public scene, and public opinion of Greek life has forced us, in past years and in the present, to begin to revolutionize the way we operate. We are forced not only to disprove the stereotypes, but to be proactive and actively make a difference - both by public opinion and our own compulsion to act upon our high ideals. We are there, day in and day out, volunteering and being active on campus, leading in the classroom, on the sports field, and around Hartford. If only the faculty could claim as much involvement...
Are you a Beta Eta blogger, Please join us in writing a post on your blog this upcoming Thursday about a Victim of domestic violence, Domestic Violence Awareness, etc.. If possible please include links to programs and services that can help the victims and their families....
If you are able to do so comment on this post and let us know you blogged and we will include your links in our DVA post next Thursday, 3/24
This week the chapter will be participating in Sigma Chi Derby Days. Each day sisters will search for the hidden "derbys" in hopes of bringing them to Sigma Chi for points.. Below is a photo the house director snapped of ladies retrieving derby's out of the trees in front of the chapter house.
Do you have any fun Sigma Chi Derby days memories or photos that you would like to share...
feel free to send them to axofloridastate {at} gmail {dot} com
There is no doubt that building a positive image for sororities is a huge plus for a fraternity. Most membership levels in sororities dwarf those of fraternities. It is so difficult to get in good with a sorority that it would be foolish to take that relationship for granted. However, you would be surprised at how easy it is to kill years of goodwill with just one negative interaction.
For example, a brother in my fraternity was dating a girl from a sorority. The sorority was having their once-a-year formal event, and some of the girls needed dates. My fraternity had always been on good terms with the sorority, so the girlfriend asked my brother if any of the other brothers wanted to go to the formal. Three accepted the offer.
Before the event, the four brothers were pre-gaming with the sorority sisters. Everything was going fine and everyone was having a good time. One of the brothers seemed to be drinking a little too heavy, but no one seemed to notice.
Anyway, the formal was a great time for everyone. The four couples went back to one of the sister’s apartments to conclude the evening. That is when a long night of drinking hit my fraternity brother. He ended up puking on her bedroom floor and pulled a light fixture off the wall. Needless to say, a night filled with promise did not end well.
After that night relations with the sorority were never the same. Our fraternity did everything they could do try to fix the damage done, but to no avail.
This goes to show how fragile relationships can be with sororities, and how it is essential every brother realizes it and acts accordingly.
Great article that makes both collegiate and alumnae members realize that one night of actions be it at a greek function or not can be something the reflect upon your organization for years...
The Hope Blog is a great blog is a blog all about the outreach programs and activities of Hope for Healing.Org. Be sure to check for the latest updates on how they are offering help for sexual or domestic violence survivors, train clergy, work with restorative justice kids and where we'll be setting up sexual or domestic violence displays next. View updates for our Blog Talk Radio program Voices of Hope. Always lots going on here..
One of their latest posts.....
People are always asking us about domestic violence awareness ribbons. Every cause has a ribbon these days. Purple is the color for domestic violence awareness ribbons.
Once upon a time this was a simple piece of fabric ribbon folded into a loop and secured with either a straight or safety pin. Now, the awareness ribbons come in all sorts of materials from magnetic ones that can go on your car to jewelry. The popular Purple Silicone Bracelets that can be purchased in bulk to be used in a variety of ways. Of course, the simple fabric ribbon is still popular too.
The material it is made from is less important the cause that the domestic violence awareness ribbon represents.
Purple ribbon necklace
When you wear a purple domestic violence awareness ribbon you are making a statement. You are telling the world that you won't stand for relationship abuse in any form. As people ask what the ribbon represents you are given the opportunity to educate and inform. Most importantly you are helping survivors feel supported.
I could use your help here. I think I've got this one figured out, but I could be totally wrong.
Like many of you reading this, I’ve long held the belief that being visionary is one of the defining characteristics of a good leader. It’s become such conventional wisdom that it’s the rare person who doesn’t begin his/her definition of a leader with vision.
I don’t know if age brings wisdom, but it does bring many opportunities to change one’s mind. At this point in my life, I believe that vision is overrated.
I’m not saying that vision is not important. It certainly can be. I just don’t see it (as some do) as the most important thing a leader does, or really a pre-requisite for leadership at all. In fact, there may be close to a dozen things I would encourage emerging leaders to develop before vision.
Vision is the sexy side of leadership. It’s usually represented as the big, dramatic moment. That’s probably why it gets so much play and too much hype. We can’t often recall history’s doers or implementers, but we certainly remember the visionaries. The problem here is that we begin to treat leaders as the singular heroes who can move mountains with words.
But, you may be wondering, what about Martin Luther King, Jr.? Isn’t he considered one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century, and isn’t that based upon his vision as described in the “I have a dream” speech? There is a reason that the MLK example is used over and over again. It was special. It was rare and one of a kind. Yes, MLK had a vision. But, it wasn’t his vision alone.
By the time he spoke, his vision had been talked about for decades: all people should be treated equal. He just found a different way to say it. So was it his ability to vision or his ability to communicate that really mattered?
Based on this example, I would encourage leaders to develop the ability to write poetically and speak emphatically before focusing on vision.
And – by invoking MLK only when we talk about visionary leadership, we are selling him short. That speech didn’t create the change he wanted. It was each moment when he, and thousands of his supporters, rolled up their sleeves and worked toward the vision that really mattered.
Isn’t visioning fairly easy as well? For something to be considered the most vital of leadership abilities, I think it needs to be more of a challenge than vision appears to be. At its core, it’s imagining an ideal future. We all do that every day. I can do it right now: “I want a world where every child has two parents devoted to his/her well-being.” It took me 5 seconds to come up with that. Does imagining that make me a leader? Of course not.
Any person can stand in a place and see a far distant destination. Isn’t the person that devises a way to get there more important?
Another problem with our love-affair with vision is that it gives our leaders far too easy a pathway to create radical change. As I grow older, I’m starting to observe that there are very few organizations that actually need radical change. What they need is discipline to their mission and their core values. Discipline is a much greater and much more challenging leadership skill than vision. All types of internal and external forces act against an organization, and it’s the disciplined leader that keeps the group focused on what counts.
Vision also tends to be very personal, and leadership is not. Vision is great for that individual who has the luxury to make an organization into whatever he or she wants it to be. What if that’s not your call? What if you lead a fraternity that has been around for over a century and has core values and purpose? Are you serving that organization best by being a visionary leader or by being a disciplined steward?
In addition, you have others working alongside you. You will likely need to build a collective vision with them. And so again, visioning is not the skill needed here - facilitation skills are.
So – for the educators – perhaps we need to stop asking our fraternity or sorority leaders questions like “what is your vision for your chapter” or “how would your chapter be if you could have it any way you wanted it?” Instead, maybe we should ask “how will you help your chapter fulfill its intended purpose?”
If leaders don’t need vision necessarily, what do they need? As opposed to vision, here are the types of things I would encourage the youngest of leaders to try and develop:
Strategic Thinking. This is the ability to take a big idea and consider all the factors acting in favor or in opposition to the idea. Then, it’s devising implementation strategies – steps to take – that will make the idea happen.
Communication Skills. As I mentioned above in reference to MLK, learn how to write both creatively and concisely. Learn also how to speak and listen in engaging ways. While you do not need to be an extrovert to be a good leader, you do need to communicate well.
Relationship- Building. Have you ever experienced a leader who was big on ideas but couldn’t remember your name? Or someone who was better speaking from a podium than in one-on-one conversations? Did you want to follow those people? Learn how to develop authentic relationships with people long before you learn how to vision.
Critical Thinking. As you grow further as a leader and begin to get involved with complex organizations, you’ll find that instead of being called upon to create a vision, you’ll be more likely called upon to sort through an onslaught of visions and prioritize the most important ones.
The list could go on and on. Listening skills, emotional intelligence, planning skills, negotiation, etc. I’m not sure how far it would take me to get to vision, but it would take a while.
What are your thoughts? Do we put too great an emphasis on vision for leaders?
"Will inspire and teach others that even in the midst of anguish and distress, the future holds an abundance of joy and peace, if we are willing to release the past to go there.
Carolyn S. Hennecy is the author of ORANGE BLOSSOM WISHES: Child Molested, Woman Abused – Her Victorious Journey to Freedom. Publication date was October 2008, released in conjunction with National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. OBW has since then been recommended by mental health counselors, rape crisis interventionists, pastors and others working with victims of child molestation/abuse or domestic violence.
This is Carolyn’s memoir, it is her life’s story of battling and overcoming molestation as a little girl, from the age of 7 until nearly 15, the trauma of domestic violence in a long-term abusive marriage, confronting a bigamous marriage and a murder attempt. Her goal was not to write another religious work or “self-improvement” piece. Rather than seeing her readers as just another statistic, Carolyn enables them to quickly recognize her as a fellow traveler who has been down the same road of victimization. She found the light at the end of that tunnel of trauma and pain leads to a future of victory, joy and healing. Her passion is now to inspire, motivate and encourage others who have been abused or molested, helping them find their own way of escape of both victimization and the victim mentality, walking into a better and brighter life, as she readily displays in both her written works and public presentations.
This autobiography is peppered with humor and southern charm, as Carolyn puts the positive twist on the path to becoming victorious, rather than remaining a victim, and shares the messages of hope, faith and restoration. "
A great poem as posted on the Fraternal Thoughts blog.. The poem was written by Prissy Galagarian, In regards to fraternity, this poem speaks to about relationships, brotherhood/sisterhood, and the ability that fraternity gives us to truly know each other.
All of you know how much needs to be done to take meaningful steps to end domestic violence and sexual assault. We need tough law enforcement, aggressive prosecutions, effective prevention programs and available shelters for families in distress. Most importantly, we need to insure that more people know and understand that domestic violence is not a private matter. It is a critical national problem that affects us all -- in every community, in every work place and in every school.
Each of us can do more -- and this handbook shows us how.
President Clinton recognized the seriousness of the problem when he signed the Violence Against Women Act as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. In the past year, the Department of Justice has sought to combine tough federal penalties along with substantial resources to the states to begin dealing with the problem of domestic violence in a comprehensive, multi-faceted way. States and local law enforcement agencies have been encouraged to begin programs that will enhance their ability to prevent domestic violence, to punish it and to stop the cycle of violence. The Act also established a:
National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-SAFE.
President Clinton has called on all the Departments of the Federal government to develop employee awareness campaigns to help combat domestic violence. The Department of Justice, Violence Against Women Office, prepared this handbook as a resource guide for anyone seeking assistance or information on Domestic Violence. The following web site addresses are provided as additional resources:
I LOVE LOVE this article, it was originally posted on the Fraternal Thoughts blog, but reminds me of all of the random pathways across Landis Green at FSU....
The campus groundskeeper stood at the top floor of the administration building and looked out the window. The building sat in the middle of the college, which gave him a wonderful view of the beautiful campus he maintained. It was Spring, and he had laid new green turf throughout the grounds. The campus design was simple: stately red brick buildings surrounding a wide expanse of open space, which was laid out as a grid of grass and sidewalks. Students could travel North or South, or East or West, with ease. And then he saw it. At first, he wasn’t sure it was real. Perhaps it was a streak in the glass of the window, or a mirage of some sort. Once he realized that it was truly what he thought it was, he dropped his cup of coffee on the ground. He looked closer, and then began to look more closely all around. Soon he realized that they were everywhere! His lovely campus was being ruined! Those damn lazy students were cutting diagonal lines through the grass, leaving brown dirt paths in the middle of his lovely green turf.
“Use the sidewalks!” he shouted to no one in particular but the window. He immediately placed a call to his crew, and they placed new sod, seed, and fences up so that the grass would grow back over the paths. A month later, he removed the fences, hoping that they had made the point. “The students will not win!” he thought. An hour later, students began cutting diagonally through the grass and the dirt paths reemerged. The groundskeeper gave up. He was close to retirement and sadly lamented what he saw as the ugly campus grounds until the day he left.
A new groundskeeper was hired, and one day was standing in the same place the retired groundskeeper had once stood, looking out upon the campus. He too noticed the dirt paths that had been worn into the ground, but he didn’t see them as ugly or intrusive. He also placed a phone call in response.
A month later, the brown dirt paths had been covered by sidewalks.
Is cutting across a lawn instead of using the sidewalk an act of defiance? Not really. But the story does provide a fairly good analogy for how we – as professionals that work with college students – view their actions and decisions. Administrators often believe that they have laid out the best path for students, and are perplexed when a different path is chosen. Administrators then stand their ground, channel their deepest Dean Wormer, and try to put the students back on the “correct” path.
And the students, innocently free from notions of bureaucracy, legislation, rules, and legalities, calmly say in return: “Uhh, I see the sidewalks you laid out for me, but it’s a lot faster to go this way.”
And administrators have a choice in this moment, just like the groundskeepers in the story above. Way too often, the choice we make is to ignore the students, stick to the sidewalks we have created, and stubbornly demand they use them.
This is our usual response to the defiance and/or rebelliousness of our students. What if the next time you were faced with that choice, you took a deep breath, swallowed a little pride, and said, “Maybe the students are on to something.”
Years ago, fans at Duke basketball games had the reputation of being mean and nasty to opposing teams and fans. Embarrassingly so. The university president was faced with a choice: use his power and authority to squash this problem, or, find a way to embrace it. Whereas 99% of administrators in his position would have fired off a tersely-worded letter or statement that condemned the acts and laid out a terrifying set of consequences for anyone who acted out, Terry Sanford (or Uncle Terry as he was called) instead wrote a different kind of letter. He celebrated the enthusiasm of the fans, and asked them to channel it into a force for good:
"I don't think we need to be crude and obscene to be effectively enthusiastic. We can cheer and taunt with style: that should be the Duke trademark."
"I suggest that we change. Talk this matter over in your various residential houses. Think of something clever but clean, devastating but decent, mean but wholesome, witty and forceful but G-rated for television, and try it at the next game."
The results are infamous. The Cameron Crazies at Duke are now known for their very tenacious yet polite cheers. For instance, when a referee misses a call, the preferred chant is "We beg to differ!"
Another example. When I was a senior at Miami in 1998, there was a “riot” of students in the center of town late one night. I don’t remember what sparked it, but eventually hundreds of students took to the streets to party, cause damage, and be obnoxious. A year later, the anniversary of this event was approaching and there were rumors of a second riot. A moment of choice. Most universities would have imposed some draconian rules on alcohol or parties, doubled the police presence, and had suspensions ready to hand out as quickly as candy at a parade. Miami made a different choice. They invited a core group of students to design and carry out an outdoor rally and festival to be held on the anniversary night at the site of the riot. There were bands and activities. The streets were full of students who had left the bars and found something pretty cool waiting outside. The Red Brick Rally became an annual tradition.
In each of these examples, the administrators noticed something in the students – a spirit that they wanted to put to a productive use. They saw the dirt paths coming, and put usable sidewalks in their place.
So, how do we celebrate and use the defiance that’s in the DNA of our fraternities and sororities?
First, we can put students in a position to use that defiant spirit for good. Let's pledge to stop using students on committees or task forces simply as tokens. Let's give them significant work, like crafting policy and strategic plans. When they vocally disagree with an idea, let’s resist the inclination to think “they just don’t understand,” and instead think “maybe we just don’t understand.”
We can also encourage grassroots movements. There are students all over our campuses that send signals of rebellion, but their passions never get off the ground. The next student who volunteers his/her disdain for hazing should be encouraged to move their conviction to action. The next student that asks you what you're doing about the poor fraternity grade report should be answered with, "I've been waiting for you."
We can be willing to be wrong. To be honest, now that I have stepped away from campus work for a while, I look back at some of the policies I treated as gospel and I laugh. Now, I wish I had handed them over to the student leaders I advised and gave them the chance to rewrite them so they worked better. I recently consulted with a university in which a major battle of wills had erupted between the IFC and the university staff over an event authorization process. Is that worth a major battle? An event authorization process? Sometimes we are wrong and we need to happily admit it. Sometimes we are right, but that shouldn't make us inflexible.
Finally, we can simply and calmly accept this defiant spirit for what it is - an inherent trait that breathes life into fraternities and sororities. It can give us headaches and heartburn. It can also make our work less efficient and messier. But, it also keeps us accountable. It encourages innovation. It can make life more playful and spirited. It can help those of us who have allowed policies, rules, regulations, and bureaucracy to rule our work remember that we shouldn't take those things too seriously.
It may even make us radically change the way we do our work. But that's okay.
After all, we may just have defiance in our DNA as well.
The first step in helping abused or neglected children is learning to recognize the signs of child abuse and neglect. The presence of a single sign does not prove child abuse is occurring in a family, but a closer look at the situation may be warranted when these signs appear repeatedly or in combination.
If you do suspect a child is being harmed, reporting your suspicions may protect the child and get help for the family. Any concerned person can report suspicions of child abuse and neglect. Some people (typically certain types of professionals) are required by law to make a report of child maltreatment under specific circumstances—these are called mandatory reporters. For more information, see the Child Welfare Information Gateway publication, Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect.
For more information about where and how to file a report, contact your local child protective services agency or police department. An additional resource for information and referral is the Childhelp® National Child Abuse Hotline (800.4.A.CHILD).
Recognizing Child Abuse
The following signs may signal the presence of child abuse or neglect.
The Child:
Shows sudden changes in behavior or school performance
Has not received help for physical or medical problems brought to the parents' attention
Has learning problems (or difficulty concentrating) that cannot be attributed to specific physical or psychological causes
Is always watchful, as though preparing for something bad to happen
Lacks adult supervision
Is overly compliant, passive, or withdrawn
Comes to school or other activities early, stays late, and does not want to go home
The Parent:
Shows little concern for the child
Denies the existence of—or blames the child for—the child's problems in school or at home
Asks teachers or other caregivers to use harsh physical discipline if the child misbehaves
Sees the child as entirely bad, worthless, or burdensome
Demands a level of physical or academic performance the child cannot achieve
Looks primarily to the child for care, attention, and satisfaction of emotional needs
The Parent and Child:
Rarely touch or look at each other
Consider their relationship entirely negative
State that they do not like each other
Types of Abuse
The following are some signs often associated with particular types of child abuse and neglect: physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. It is important to note, however, that these types of abuse are more typically found in combination than alone. A physically abused child, for example, is often emotionally abused as well, and a sexually abused child also may be neglected.
Signs of Physical Abuse
Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the child:
Has unexplained burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, or black eyes
Has fading bruises or other marks noticeable after an absence from school
Seems frightened of the parents and protests or cries when it is time to go home
Shrinks at the approach of adults
Reports injury by a parent or another adult caregiver
Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver:
Offers conflicting, unconvincing, or no explanation for the child's injury
Describes the child as "evil," or in some other very negative way
Uses harsh physical discipline with the child
Has a history of abuse as a child
Signs of Neglect
Consider the possibility of neglect when the child:
Is frequently absent from school
Begs or steals food or money
Lacks needed medical or dental care, immunizations, or glasses
Is consistently dirty and has severe body odor
Lacks sufficient clothing for the weather
Abuses alcohol or other drugs
States that there is no one at home to provide care
Consider the possibility of neglect when the parent or other adult caregiver:
Appears to be indifferent to the child
Seems apathetic or depressed
Behaves irrationally or in a bizarre manner
Is abusing alcohol or other drugs
Signs of Sexual Abuse
Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the child:
Has difficulty walking or sitting
Suddenly refuses to change for gym or to participate in physical activities
Reports nightmares or bedwetting
Experiences a sudden change in appetite
Demonstrates bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual knowledge or behavior
Becomes pregnant or contracts a venereal disease, particularly if under age 14
Runs away
Reports sexual abuse by a parent or another adult caregiver
Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver:
Is unduly protective of the child or severely limits the child's contact with other children, especially of the opposite sex
Is secretive and isolated
Is jealous or controlling with family members
Signs of Emotional Maltreatment
Consider the possibility of emotional maltreatment when the child:
Shows extremes in behavior, such as overly compliant or demanding behavior, extreme passivity, or aggression
Is either inappropriately adult (parenting other children, for example) or inappropriately infantile (frequently rocking or head-banging, for example)
Is delayed in physical or emotional development
Has attempted suicide
Reports a lack of attachment to the parent
Consider the possibility of emotional maltreatment when the parent or other adult caregiver:
Constantly blames, belittles, or berates the child
Is unconcerned about the child and refuses to consider offers of help for the child's problems
Overtly rejects the child
Resources on the Child Welfare Information Gateway Website
Over the past week we have had a lot of events in which we are challenging ourselves to do better for ourselves and our community. One such event that we participated in was the Krispy Kreme Challenge which benefitted the Student United Way. In this event, participants ran two miles then ate between one(slacker) or a dozen (challenger) donuts and then ran another two miles. It was a great bonding experience for me and my fellow sisters as well as a great workout. Another event was DEANS LIST DESSERT! Roughly half of our chapter made the deans list this past semester and we celebrated with a delicious dessert of chocolate covered strawberries and dessert pizza :) It was great to see how many of my sisters were striving for perfection academically.
below i have some pictures from both events :) ENJOY!
Alpha Chi Omega alumna Erin (Iota Psi, Elon)'s department (Department of Art Education) and student association (Art Therapy Association) are collaborating with Seven Days of Opening Nights Arts Fest and the City of Tallahassee to paint a mural on the corner of Gaines and Railroad Square from Feb. 10-22. "We're there this week 9am-7pm and this weekend 12-5pm. We'll be there 9am-9pm beginning Feb 14. Any and all are welcome- we'd especially love for people to bring their classes (if they teach) or any volunteer organizations; it's pretty much paint by numbers; artistic or technical skill is not a requirement.
"Students of any paintbrush-wielding age are welcome, provided they have proper supervision of course. We are also working with local programs such as Pyramid Studios, SAIL, and FDOA/Sports Ability. The theme of the mural is the arts-visual, and performing, so there are dancers and musicians and such throughout the mural design. It should be awesome!"
What a great way to celebrate MacDowell Month (when Alpha Chi Omegas everywhere take part in and support the fine arts)!
This was origionally posted on Fraternal Thoughts blog.. We would love to hear your thoughts..
Occasionally, entities like the NIC, NPC, NPHC, or NALFO get asked to consider purchasing a Super Bowl ad in order to change public perception of Greek-letter organizations. This has become symbolic for the attitude that many carry that we need to use high-profile advertising mechanisms to improve our image and/or recruit new members.
The opposing view is that it would be a waste of money and that advertising techniques will have little to no effect on public perception. Many argue that only a change in behavior will make the difference.
What are your thoughts? Companies spend millions on Super Bowl ads and traditional advertising, so it must have some sort of positive impact, right? Should the fraternity movement try this technique, or are our limited resources better used elsewhere? Take the poll and please add your comments.
By the way,In 2010, the average cost of a 30-second commercial during the Super Bowl was approximately $3.01 million.
Below are some characteristics that might identify a potential batterer or abuser, as noted on A Safe Place for Help's website
Jealousy
At the beginning of the relationship, an abuser will always say that jealousy is a sign of love. Jealousy has nothing to do with love. It's a sign of insecurity and possessiveness. A batterer will question you about who you talk to, accuse you of flirting, or be jealous of time you spend with your family, friends, or children. As the jealousy progresses, the abuser may call frequently during the day or drop by unexpectedly to check up on you. The abuser may insist that you not work or check the car mileage or ask friends to watch you.
Controlling Behavior
At first, the batterer will say that this behavior comes from concern about your safety, your need to use time wisely, or your need to make good decisions. The abuser will be angry if you are late coming home, and he/she may question you closely about where you went or whom you talked to. As this behavior gets worse, you may not be allowed to make decisions about the house, your clothing, or your going out. The abuser may keep all the money or make you ask permission to leave the house.
Quick Involvement
Many survivors of domestic violence dated or knew their abuser for less than six months before they were living together. The abuser comes on like a whirlwind claiming love at first sight. The person may tell you such flattering things as “you're the only person for me” or “I've never loved anyone like this before.”
Unrealistic Expectations
At first, the batterer will say that this behavior comes from concern about your safety, you need to use time well, or your need to make good decisions. The abuser will be angry if you are late coming home. He/She may question you closely about where you went or whom you talked to.
Isolation
A batterer will try to cut you off from everything and everyone. People who are your support system are accused of causing trouble. You may not be able to use the phone or go out when you want to.
Blames Other(s) for Problems
The abuser's problems are justified by saying that people are out to get him or her. The abuser may blame problems on you and claim that you are at fault for every think that goes wrong.
Blames Other(s) for Feelings
The abuser will say “you make me mad” or “you're hurting me by not doing what I ask.” You cannot make anyone feel anything, and often times, an abuser uses this statement to manipulate you.
Hypersensitivity
The abuser is easily insulted, claims hurt feelings when really feeling mad, or takes the slightest setbacks as personal attacks. The abuser will rant and rave about the injustice of things that have happened.
Cruelty to Animals or Children
The abuser may punish animals brutally or be insensitive to their pain and suffering. The abuser may expect children to do things way beyond their ability or tease them until they cry.
Playful Use of Force In Sex
The abuser may like to throw you down and hold you down during sex, or act out fantasies where you are helpless. The abuser may start to have sex with you while you are sleeping or demand sex while you are ill or tired or right after an assault.
Verbal Abuse
In addition to saying things that are cruel or hurtful, the abuser may degrade you, or run down your accomplishments. The abuser will tell you that you are stupid and unable to function alone.
Two Very Different Personalities
You may be confused by the batterer's sudden change in mood. One minute the person is nice and the next minute, explosive or very sad. This does not indicate some kind of special mental problem or that the person is “crazy”.
Past Battering
You may find out the abuser has hit lovers in the past, but claims that they provoked or exaggerated it. A batterer will assault any person they are with. Situational circumstances do not make a person batter.
Breaking and Striking Objects
This behavior is used as punishment and used to terrorize you. The batterer will select specific items of personal worth to destroy. The person may strike tables or walls, or throw objects.
Any Type of Force During an Argument
This may involve holding you down or restraining you from leaving the room. Any physical assault is considered battering.
It is with heavy hearts that we share that we have lost a Beta Eta Alpha Chi Omega alumna sister. Cathy was a 1947 initiate.
Catherine Austin Buzzett, 81, of St. George Island passed away Monday, Jan. 31, 2011 in Tampa.
Cathy Buzzett was born Feb. 1, 1929 to the late Loretta and Eugene Austin in Apalachicola. She graduated from Florida State University in 1950 and married Lt. Harry A. Buzzett later in that year. She was a devoted wife and mother to six children. She was an active member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and served many volunteer organizations throughout her life.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 60 years, Col. Harry A. Buzzett, children Ellen E. Mackay and husband, Steve, of Andover, Mass.; William A. Buzzett and wife, Kelly, of Seagrove Beach; Lisa M. Tanjuatco and husband, Ferdie, of Atlanta, Ga.; Cecilia A. Lovett and husband, Perrin, of Augusta, Ga. and Joseph G. Buzzett and wife, Jennifer, of Tampa; 10 grandchildren, Tricia, Daniel, Ryan, Austin, Wells, Trey, Gabrielle, Alexandria, Jacqueline, and Jordan; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her son, Michael A. Buzzett, and sisters Jean Elizabeth Atchison and Mary Marjorie Austin.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 4 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Apalachicola with Father Roger Latosynski officiating, with interment to follow in Magnolia Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Thursday, Feb 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Kelly Funeral Home in Apalachicola.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Patrick Catholic Church, 6th Street, Apalachicola, FL.
One of our sisters at Beta Eta, Bekah Leake, has entered an online contest to get a full sponsorship for her and Alpha Chi Omega for Dance Marathon!! If everyone could do the following and help her win we would GREATLY appreciate it!!
1. Go to "My Little Girl, LLC" on facebook http://www.facebook.com/mylittlegirlonline
2. "Like" their page
3. Go to their Dance Marathon contest album "DM 2011 Contest"
4. Comment on the photo of Rebekah Leake (“like” does not count). She was the first woman to enter the contest on January 21st.
The person with the most comments will win the contest!! We are neck and neck with Gamma Phi Beta.
Please comment only ONE time... people that comment more than once will disqualify the candidate.
What is domestic violence? Domestic violence, or intimate partner violence, occurs when one person causes physical or psychological harm to a current or former intimate partner. It includes all acts of violence within the context of family or intimate relationships. Besides being the leading cause of injury to women in the United States (a woman is beaten every 15 seconds), it is an issue of increasing concern because of its negative effect on all family members, especially children. While accurate information on the extent of domestic violence is difficult to obtain because of under-reporting, some aspects of the problem are known:
Domestic violence is not confined to any one socioeconomic, ethnic, religious, racial or age group and knows no geographic or educational boundaries. It also occurs within teenage relationships and among same-sex partnerships.
About one out of every four women in America will be physically assaulted or raped by an intimate partner at some point in their lives. In fact, American women are more likely to be assaulted, injured, raped or killed by a male partner than by any other type of assailant.
Estimates of assaults on women by partners range from approximately 2 million to 4 million annually in the United States.
The majority of women killed at work are murdered by a current or former intimate partner.
Wife of a drummer in a platinum-selling band? Check.
Robin Shetler, New Member class of 1992, has a great deal on her plate these days and part of that she owes to her time at Florida State.
While serving as AXO's Panhellenic representative and a Rho Chi during the fall 1995 rush, Robin made a connection that would change her life forever: one of her rushees knew the members of the Gainesville-based band, Sister Hazel and introduced Robin to them. A year later, when Robin moved to Gainesville for law school she developed a friendship with the band's drummer, Mark. Many years and two states later, they married in 2002. In 2008, they welcomed their first child, Miles.
After two years of practicing music law in Nashville, Robin took a job in Atlanta, Georgia where she shifted her focus to corporate technology law and, for the past 10 years she's served as in-house counsel for publicly-traded corporations in Atlanta, specializing in technology, software licensing and outsourcing.
But that isn't all.
On nights and weekends you'll find Robin out shooting weddings or day-in-the-life portrait sessions - a passion she hopes to make a full-time career in 2012.
And, occasionally, when work, photography and motherhood give her a night out, you'll find Robin at a concert, dancing in the audience while her husband bangs on the drums.
So last week was a pretty relaxed week. We had the first degree of initiation which went well. The new spring members are very excited to become Alpha Chi's and their second degree of initiation has been scheduled for March 20th. Yay! Also last week we had profiles due to live in the house, the exciting news about this is that we had over 70 girls apply to live in the house!!! It made me so happy to see that so many girls want to be actively involved in the chapter.
This week we have a lot going on. We have a Dance Marathon fundraiser tonight at Ghengis Grill on Appallachee Parkway so if you are in the area feel free to stop by. :) Also our VP Philathropy, Stacia Dudley, approached me last night at chapter and told me that she had received some donations from alumnae in the last week after my last post and I just wanted to say thank you. Your support is very encouraging and we all really appreciate it.
On that note, Stacia asked me to mention that our annual event PAR-TEE is going to be on April 9th :) If any alumnae or your significant others would like to play in the golf tournament or you are in the area and would like to help out please let me know and I can get you all the information! Also we are doing something a little special this year. we realized that over the last few years we haven't been fully utilizing all the people who want to help out but can't make it to Tallahassee to participate due to work and other obligations so this year we are a virtual golfer experience for all those individuals. If you would like to be a virtual golfer to support the womens refuge house please let me know!
Well that's all I have for this blog but I do have a serious question for all my amazing alumnae out there... Do any of you play the piano that would be interested/ able to come and participate in the preference round of recruitment in the fall?!?!?! Let me know :) THANK YOU
1955 - Moving into the New House!
