Volume 6, Issue 4 - December 2010

December 2010/January 2011 | Volume 6 | Issue 4

this issue: Page 1: 2010 in Review Page 2: Senior Spotlight Page 3: Greeks of the Month Page 4: Events Page 5: Final Exam Stress Buster!

MGC & NPHC members teach “Educational Talent Search” students about college opportunities at PRLACC on Dec. 8, 2010.

Happy Holidays and have an Amazing New Year!

As 2010 comes to an end, we take our time to look back at what made this year so memorable. It was a year of unfortunate tragedies for many countries, such as the earthquake of Haiti, the political crisis of Thailand, the Gulf Oil Spill, and the trapped Chilean miners. It was a year of triumphs and new milestones, with the completion of the Large Hadron Collider, the election of Costa Rica’s first woman president, and the success of the synthetic Genome Project.

The eyes and ears of millions tuned in on Africa, as vuvuzelas roared through the crowds at the World Cup. Thousands of people waited in line for the next generation of technology in the form of the iPad. Microsoft finally created a great operating system known as Windows 7. Music has felt the uprising of countless Justin Bieber fans and Nick Minaj enthusiasts. In 2010, movies explored the concept of 3-D to an obsessive amount. The internet told us to “hide yo kids, hide yo wives” as it was in awe with double rainbows and Pokemon. Finally, WikiLeaks became the most controversial website in the history of the internet when it released secrets of the government to the public.

Locally, the University of Connecticut has undergone some major changes in the year 2010. We lost a president and gained a new tuition increase. The Woman’s Basketball team has 87 consecutive wins, while the men's basketball team jumped from being unrated this year to now number 7. Even the football team won its first Big East championship, and is headed to its first BCS Bowl Game. The construction of the new East and West buildings has finally started. HuskyTHON raised over $150,000 for CCMC! We welcomed the presence of new fraternity Alpha Delta Phi and the return of Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. We congratulate UConn’s Conn-Men and CDN for being featured on 2010’s Best of College A Cappella Album. The UConn Team Awarded USAID/HED Funds to Help Improve Water Resource Management in Ethiopia as a new program was introduced to Immerse Middle School Girls in engineering and science classrooms for a day. Both the University of Connecticut and the rest of the world has changed dramatically during 2010 and let us all be thankful for such a year and prepare for the new decade that is beyond us.

Laura Vargo, Pi Beta Phi Laura Vargo is definitely an outstanding Greek senior.

She has accomplished so much in her time here at UConn including holding a myriad of leadership roles in and outside of Greek Life. Laura truly represents all of the pillars of Greek Life and is a role model to not only her chapter but the entire Greek community. She has managed to accomplish so many things like study abroad, be on Pi Beta Phi Executive board and be a part of Recruitment Management Team as a Recruitment Counselor this fall. She has enough enthusiasm for Greek life to spread to the whole community and is truly deserving of recognition of Senior Spotlight.

Look out for these future Senior Events!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011: Greek Senior Interviewing Workshop 7-9 PM, Student Union 316/317 As graduation approaches, many students find themselves receiving interviews for jobs and graduate programs. Come to this extremely useful Interviewing Workshop to learn the basics of excellent interviewing skills so you will be fully prepared and comfortable on interview day!

Monday, March 21, 2011: Greek Week Senior Picnic 5-7 PM, Student Union Ballroom Get your last Greek Week started off right! Come to the Greek Week Senior Picnic for food and fun with other Greek seniors before the Opening Ceremonies. Best of all,

Congratulations to our new 2011 Multicultural Greek Council officers!

President Aldonille Campo Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. Executive Vice President Carlos Villa La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. Vice President of Finance Ramonita Garza Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. Vice President of Internal Affairs Jessica Ofray Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. Vice President of Communications Melanie Peralta Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. Vice President of Public Relations Gabe Botero Lambda Theta Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Have a New Year’s Resolution to learn even more about your future!

Check out Career Services even during the Winter break!

Follow us on twitter (http://twitter.com/ UConnCareerSvcs, http://twitter.com/ InternInfoUConn) or like us on Facebook (UConn Career Services)!

you will earn your team valuable points right off the bat at this first official event of Greek Week 2011!

Sunday, April 17, 2011: Fraternity and Sorority Etiquette Dinner & Networking Reception 5-7 PM, Alumni Center Great Hall First priority to attend this event goes to Greek seniors. The dinner will be an opportunity to learn common etiquette that will prove helpful through a professional career and the chance to network with fraternity/sorority alumni/ae.

Be sure to visit http://fsl.beta.sa.uconn.edu/seniors.html for information and upcoming events. Also, check out the Greek Life Bucket List for a list of great activities to do before graduation!

Congratulations to our new 2011 GAMMA Leadership!

President Cassie Schmidt Pi Beta Phi Vice President of Education Nini Jain Delta Gamma Vice President of Programming Matt Daudish Tau Kappa Epsilon Vice President of Communication Allie Edelstein Pi Beta Phi Vice President of Finance Meredith Kaiser Pi Beta Phi

David Wanik of Beta Theta Pi

Danielle Gagliardi of Kappa Alpha Theta

David Wanik has served this semester as Beta Theta Pi’s Member Educator..

Dave has taken this task on wholeheartedly and has constructed a unique program. Dave has been essential in creating The Brother Project, a variation on the better-known Men’s Project, which covers many of the same issues through the scope of a fraternity man.

With his work with the OFSL and the Women’s Center, Dave has been able to create a curriculum that has challenged everyone in attendance. Discussions of identity, bystander empowerment, privilege, and violence against women were held by the brothers with the help of facilitators that have worked with Dave to construct the program. Dave Wanik deserves recognition for the creation of this program that has impacted not only our Greek community, but the larger UConn community.

Danielle Gagliardi of Kappa Alpha Theta exemplifies exceptional leadership in the Greek community and on the UConn campus. She is an American Eagle Campus Representative, on the Victoria’s Secret PINK Street team for UConn, and was on the Greek homecoming committee where she contributed her creative talents to the costumes and banner. Danielle is also a member and Co-Chair of PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) of the Communications Society, where her goal is to establish a PR society on campus. Additionally, she will be contributing her time as a HuskyTHON volunteer and a Morale Captain for 2011. Danielle is a passionate, dependable sister and ambitious leader of Kappa Alpha Theta, which is exemplified with her service and involvement within the Greek community and UConn campus.

Congratulations to new 2011 chapter and council officers! As you begin work in a new position, please let the OFSL know what questions or concerns you have. All chapter/councils should notify the OFSL of any officer turnover and provide contact information for officers as requested. All council officers and chapter presidents will attend the spring Greek Leadership Retreat, scheduled for January 15-16th. This retreat is required. More information about the retreat will be shared directly with council and chapter leadership.

Please ensure officer transitions are thorough and provide a strong overview to allow successors to be successful in their new officer role. If you would like support in these transitions, or would like to introduce new officers to the OFSL staff member that works with your organization or council, please let the OFSL know. For an overview of OFSL advising assignments, please click here (http:// www.greeklife.uconn.edu/docs/UConn__OFSL_Org_Chart_Fall_2010.pdf). For contact information for OFSL staff members, click here (http://www.greeklife.uconn.edu/staff.html).

The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life would also like to congratulate all of the new initiates of Fall 2010!

Congratulations Pi Beta Phi! On Saturday morning of November 6th, 2010 Pi Beta Phi initiated 33 new sisters, including one legacy. This has been the highest number of women being initiated at once for CT Alpha. We are extremely proud of the new sisters, and know that they will be great leaders both within Pi Beta Phi and within the Greek Community. These women join the over 227,000 women who have been initiated into Pi Beta Phi, one of the highest numbers of the National Panhellenic Conference.

Congratulations to our December graduates .We wish you the best of luck in your future and thank you for all you have contributed to our Greek community in your time at the University of Connecticut. http:// www.greeklife.uconn.edu/ seniors.html

iThink Iota is the Movement How can Greek Letter organizations keep themselves relevant on campus? Innovation is the key! The brothers of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. have made it their mission to bring to the campus quality events. One of several brand new events that Iota Phi Theta has brought to the University of Connecticut is called “iThink”. “iThink” is a brand new lecture series dedicated to supplying students with the opportunity to participate in seminars with some of the University’s most brilliant professors. “iThink” was originally designed to cater to students who are unable to fit particular classes within their schedule due to: time constraints, unmet prerequisites or major conflicts. Eventually it was decided to leave it open to all students who have even the slightest interest in any of the lecture topics.

So far there have been two “iThink” seminars. The very first installment was on October 28 th with communications department assistant professor, Dr. Melissa Tafoya, doing a lecture on “Conflict Management”. The second installment of the lecture series was on November 3rd with philosophy department head, Dr. Crawford Elder, doing a lecture on “The Mind versus the Brain Problem”. The third installment is in the works and is coming very soon. Students who participated in these seminars showed great interest in the topics and even requested follow up lectures on some of the topics. “iThink” is one of many new ideas that Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. has come up with in hopes of not only bringing entertaining and educational events to the campus but to also cater to the needs of students in many ways.

MGC Homelessness Sleep Out The Multicultural Greek Council and ConnPIRG held their annual Homelessness Sleep Out service event on Wednesday, November 17th, 2010. Members of organizations slept outside in the cold to raise awareness about homelessness. The only shelter which is provided are cardboard boxes, and a cardboard box shelter design contest is a highlight of the event each year. Refreshments such as hot cocoa and soup were provided.

Leif Mitchell presents “Gay, Greek and Proud” at the Rainbow Center on Dec. 8, 2010

Canned goods were collected to be donated to a local homeless shelter. Highlights of the night included a powerful speaker from No Freeze Hospitality Center in Willimantic, CT who spoke about the prevalence and problems associated with homelessness. Various groups performed throughout the night as well.

Many members of organizations from all of the Greek councils supported this event, and it was a great success.

Thanksgiving is the perfect time of year to recognize our troops for Their dedication to our country. As busy college students, we sometimes forget the courageous men and women who serve to protect our country every day.

They defend our nation and ensure our security.

On Tuesday, November 16th Kappa Kappa Gamma & Pi Beta Phi worked together on a joint service project to support soldiers overseas.

They decorated and wrote cards to the troops thanking them for their bravery and wishing them a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

It’s important the troops know how much they are appreciated.

We hope that the cards they receive help shed light upon the gratitude and admiration we, as Greeks, have for them.

Final exam week is a stressful time for every student, especially those who are balancing other commitments on top of school work. Having a game plan for finals can help to reduce stress levels and increase success before heading off for winter break! These tips will help with coping during 1. Get Moving A little bit of exercise will decrease your stress level and make studying more productive, not to mention it boosts endorphins, neurotransmitters that produce happiness in the brain.

2. Eat Smart Ordering take-out or fast food might seem like the easiest option while cramming for a test, but its not the best idea. Eating a well-balanced diet provides the energy necessary to make it through finals.

3. Establish Your Priorities When you are overwhelmed with multiple exams and papers, it is necessary to prioritize. Decide what you can finish today and what can wait for another day. You cannot expect yourself to finish everything at once.

4. Create a Study Plan Once you have decided what your priorities are, you can create a study plan. Make a schedule for what you will complete each day and be sure to leave time for short and frequent breaks.

5. Set Realistic Goals and Reward Yourself When You Reach Them No one can do everything all at once. It is important to realize what is and is not possible. Set a goal that you can reach and reward yourself when you do!

6. Get Enough Sleep Pulling an all-nighter might seem like a good idea, but it can actually be more detrimental to study and health. An adequate amount of sleep is necessary to learn material, store information in the brain and be successful on exams.

7. Listen to Your Body Headaches, sore muscles, and nausea are all signs of stress. Eat healthy and get enough sleep during finals week to feel healthier and take frequent breaks to combat stress.

8. Take Time to Relax Taking a break for exercise or a relaxing activity will help you focus when its time to get back to studying and help reduce stress during finals week.

9. Recognize and Accept Limits No one can get a perfect grade on every assignment. Understanding one’s strengths and weaknesses makes studying a lot less stressful. Not many people can get A’s in every single class they take.

10. Celebrate the End of Exams After exams are over, celebrate the fact that you made it! Relax with family and friends and have a good time. You worked hard and should be proud of yourself.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2011 Sunday January 17, 2011 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Each year the country observes this day in honor of the civil rights icon, Martin Luther King Jr. He is remembered and known for being a leader of the African-American Civil Rights Movement, a civil rights activist, promoter of civil dis-

obedience, a talented orator, and Nobel Peace Prize winner.

This MLK Day, we as Greeks should be proud for the fact that Martin Luther King Jr., too, was a Greek. Martin Luther King Jr. was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He truly exemplified the pillars of Greek Life and the

Look out for the NPHC—SUBOG Annual The Art of Storytelling Step Show Saturday January 22, 2011 Jorgenson Theatre 7:00 PM

UConn Greek Community will be proud to honor him on this MLK Day.

Happy Founders’ Day to:

Zeta Beta Tau—Dec. 29, 1898

Lambda Theta Phi—Dec, 1, 1975 Alpha Phi Alpha—Dec. 4, 1906 Kappa Sigma—Dec. 10, 1869

Phi Beta Sigma—Jan. 9, 1914 Tau Kappa Epsilon—Jan. 10, 1899 Alpha Kappa Alpha—Jan. 15, 1908 Zeta Phi Beta—Jan. 16, 1920

Lambda Alpha Upsilon— Dec. 10, 1985 Delta Gamma—Dec. 25, 1873 Kappa Alpha Theta—Jan. 27, 1870