Featured Chapter: Beta

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA - NORMAN, OK

EST 09.13.1997

On March 4, 1996,

an Interest Group formed at the University of Oklahoma which paved the way for Alpha Sigma Kappa - Women in Technical Studies to become a National Organization. Just over a year later, this group was installed as the Beta Chapter, with 18 Founding Sisters. Over the years, the Beta Chapter has continued to grow and adapt, even through a pandemic.

Their growth includes demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity. Chapter President Audrey Heuser stated " The Beta Chapter is full of wonderful, welcoming Siblings who strive to create a diverse and inclusive space." Part of this was going out of their way to review and revise Chapter bylaws, enacting changes consistent with the goal of inclusivity including changing all pronouns in Chapter documents from she/her to they/them and referring to Members as " Siblings" instead of " Sisters" . " The Siblings of the Beta Chapter are some of the sweetest and funniest people I have ever met," continued Heuser " and they never hesitate to help anyone in need."

In 2020, the Chapter also found ways to support each other and stay connected during the pandemic. Being virtual for the safety of their Members meant getting creative with events and the Beta Chapter committee chairs did not disappoint. They had games nights, self-care nights and movie nights, all from the comfort of their own homes. However, one of the Beta traditions that had to adapt was the " support bra" . This bra, decorated with ribbon, flowers, and rhinestones in ΑΣΚ colors, is discreetly given to a Member (anonymously nominated by a friend) who is going through a rough time. It is a sign of the Chapter's love and support. While an actual bra isn't feasible to pass around in the middle of a pandemic, the Chapter created a virtual version that they continued to utilize.

Audrey Heuser shared her own experience as part of the Chapter: " Being the President of the Beta Chapter is such a genuine joy. I love seeing everyone?s face every week at Chapter. The Beta Chapter has given so much to me. It?s where I?ve met my best friends, had some of the biggest laughs and where I?ve received so much support when I needed it most. I consider myself lucky to get to lead such an amazing group of people, and I?m so proud of them and all they've accomplished, both in ΑΣΚ and out. I joined the Chapter my first semester of college and instantly knew I found my people. From crazy adventures on the way to retreat to doing circus tricks at recruitment events to my friends and I trying to make the infinity sign with our entire bodies after Initiation, I haven't regretted joining for a single second."

Alumnae Reflections

To learn more about our Featured Chapter this issue, The Lioness Loop reached out to Alumnae Members for reflections about their time with the Active Chapter and what ΑΣΚ means to them. The following are those reflections from two Beta Chapter Alumnae.

Jennifer Andrews is a Founding Member of the Beta Chapter who graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering. She currently lives in Texas and works as the NASA System Integration and Operationalization (NASA-SIO) project lead on Bell's Technology and Innovation team.

How does one start the story of their Chapter's founding? With questions, investigation, drive, passion, and action. That almost sounds like the scientific method! The question to me was " was I interested?"

Engineer's Week at OU was in full swing. While I can't recall exactly how the topic of ΑΣΚ came up, I do remember being told that a freshman had been asking questions of Triangle Fraternity and was interested in gathering women who might be interested in bringing a technical sorority to campus. And I do remember being introduced briefly to the freshman while in the bathroom during the Engineers' Week banquet. The following year was quite a memorable year. Senior years in college tend to be that way.

That's right. I was in my senior year of college and decided to help found the second chapter of a new National Organization. I got plenty of questions about that. At my core, it was the right path. We met a delegation for the National Organization and Alpha Active Chapter in early March. The energy they had. They were a unit yet each was so different. One couldn't have convinced our small group to do anything else but bring a chapter to campus. ΑΣΚ was something to easily become passionate about.

At first it was difficult to let other females into my circle. The lioness representing ΑΣΚ always made sense for me, especially in the territorial nature I have experienced in engineering with other

females. While I was away over the summer, our colony's petitioning Members doubled in size. I came back and felt a bit out of place. Much had happened over the summer including the first National Convention. We quickly began to prepare for our Colonization. I got swept up in the movement again.

The fall of 1996 was a blur. We had long conversations in the parking lots following meetings. Then even longer nights at the Kettle with hot chocolate with plenty of whip cream. We had our first masquerade ball. I applied for grad school and stumbled upon some job interviews. The plan had always been to graduate in December and go for my Master's. With the job interviews, the shift in my path had changed. I hated to leave what we had begun. Georgia was soon to be my next home and too far away for much involvement with the Colony beyond internet chatting on IRC [Internet Relay Chat] or long distance phone calls. I also had a big star on my calendar for Chapter Installation.

I will claim to be one of the more unique ΑΣΚ Members. My time as an " Active" was nothing more than a few hours between the Installation Ceremonies and the Alumnae Ceremony. I suppose I could have faded into the background and elected not to return. ΑΣΚ has a way of grabbing on to who you are. The Sisterhood weaves its way into your soul with every laugh shared, every tear spilled, ever hug given and received. ΑΣΚ is a sense of belonging. It represents a place to come home to and a family with all the chaos and support.

From the start, one of our mantras always stayed with me - " A Sister for life." We stressed that lifelong commitment to the Organization and each other. 2020 has taken a toll on us all. With hugs far and few between, my Sisters have helped to get me through. The smiles they share on social media to remind me that they're doing well. The family photos, puppy dog tails and cat cuddles to remind me they're not alone. The chipper phone calls and video calls to brighten my day. And the washi tape and cards and group text selfies to keep me in their life.The crazy memes to make me laugh. We have a journey ahead and the roads are long and full of both joy and sorrow, but we have each other always to help us through. To understand and listen without judgment. To reinforce our foundation when it feels weak and to be our biggest cheerleaders to celebrate our accomplishments. The shared path makes a difference - it makes us Sisters, it makes us family.

Jenifer Henslee Peck is a Member of the Beta Chapter's Mu class. She graduated in 2007 from the University of Oklahoma (OU) with a Bachelor's degree in Meteorology and currently works in licensing with Top of the World by Fanatics. She is Vice President of the Beta Alumna Chapter. From 2007-2015 she served as National Director of Communications for Alpha Sigma Kappa - Women in Technical Studies; she continues her service to the National Organization to this day, through membership on many National committees.

My journey into ΑΣΚ started before I got to college and without really thinking I'd be in a sorority, as I'm sure a lot of you can relate. Funny enough, my career has taken a similar turn into an industry I never would've pictured myself in, but that's a story for another time.

Growing up in Texas and around primarily white middle to upper class, there are a lot of social cues you pick up. My generation was one of the first to be expected to go to college regardless of background, and Greek life was definitely something that was mentioned and well known among the so-called popular circles. While I was definitely not the first in my family to go to college, I don't think anyone in my immediate family had ever joined a social Greek organization, so I didn't have any first-hand insight into what that really meant. I had already known I was interested in meteorology for years by the time I reached high school, so I was already working to go to college and earn my degree. I had been interested in the idea of joining some organization, like a sorority, by that time as well, since my first choice school was out of state and I likely wasn't going to know a lot of other people. However, I was definitely skeptical of Greek life from all the associated stereotypes.

After I had gotten my acceptance into OU, I was invited to come to a Greek life preview in the spring of my senior year. It was a fun trip not only to visit the campus but to get a sneak peak into these mysterious Greek organizations and their larger than life houses and place in a southern college. I was very intrigued by seeing these amazing houses and meeting the ladies involved. I signed up for formal recruitment over the summer, but after mulling it over I decided that the dress code requirements for recruitment alone were just too much for me. I didn't even own some of the items they suggested! After that, I didn't think I'd ever end up being a part of Greek Life, it just wasn't something my shy self could get into, with SO many people and so many strange rules. Sometimes I regret not going through the formal process to have first-hand knowledge about it, but I'm not sure if I would have come across ΑΣΚ if I had.

I don't think I knew about ΑΣΚ until the summer before my sophomore year when I received a letter in the mail (yes snail mail!). I thought about it then because a Greek social organization for women in technical studies sounded perfect! But I was very nervous and didn't follow up on it that semester. In the spring, I saw a flyer posted for an informational session and decided to go at least see what they were about. I remember getting a folder full of information and declining the welcome party afterwards because my social batteries were already drained. I honestly don't remember a whole lot from my recruitment but I'm pretty sure I went to all the meetings and received a bid to join (I definitely still have it). It turned out I was the only one who decided to join that semester. I remember after my Candidate Ceremony that I took my new notebook full of all things A?K back to my apartment and just read everything before my first candidate education session. I was hooked and never looked back.

When I joined the Beta Chapter, there were a total of I think 14 of us active, and 7 of them had joined just the previous semester! It was a great small space of like minded individuals who were just as nerdy as I was and I really enjoyed getting to know everyone! During our retreat that semester, I was so inspired that I wrote the ΑΣΚ Toast. I submitted it as my Candidate project at Initiation and it was later submitted and accepted nationally. The size of the Beta Chapter was never bigger than that while I was Active and for a few years following. It's a great size to get to know everyone personally, but it's hard to do a whole lot of other things, because you just don't have the resources and time available. In recent years, seeing the Chapter grow to be one of the biggest, and having Candidate classes bigger than the entirety of the Chapter when I joined, has been both amazing and mind boggling!

One of my favorite things about the Beta Chapter has always been that while we tend to be academically focused, independent, and no-nonsense as individuals we also love coming together to have fun, and just be supportive Members who are all trying to get our degrees and do amazing things, all while applauding those amazing things that are done.

I fell in love with ΑΣΚ very early on and it has become a huge part of my life. Not only through the amazing things I've learned but because of all the amazing people I have met. Even when I don't see eye to eye with someone, I enjoy learning new perspectives. I think continually getting to know people who are outside of your own social circle/generation is a great thing for anyone! It helps keep your mind young, even though it's starting to make me feel realllllllly old sometimes lol. (I can't imagine how our Founders must feel!).

I encourage all Members to get involved both within your own chapter (Active and Alum) and nationally, even if that is something as simple as participating in a survey that a committee sends out. I also highly encourage attending National Convention anytime that you are able. And I really hope that you will find at least one lifelong bond from ΑΣΚ, whether that is just a special place for the Organization in your memories or a lifelong friend!