November 2010 | Volume 6 | Issue 3
this issue: Page 1 : HuskyTHON Dancer Week Page 2: Greeks of the Month Page 3: Misogyny in Fraternities? Page 4: What Am I Thankful For? Page 5: Future events and Philanthropies
A week full of special events to raise awareness, increase fundraising efforts for HuskyTHON, and to get dancers pumped up for the actual 18-hour dance marathon (February 19th-20th, 2011).
ZumbaTHON: Saturday, November 6th from 11 AM—6:00 PM at the BodyWise Studio up at Putnam. Donate $5 to attend a special themed Zumba class!! Visit the BodyWise Studio or call (860) 486-9379 to reserve your spot today!! Tabling: Sunday, November 7th at 10:15 AM at St. Thomas Aquinas Stop by to learn more about HuskyTHON or donate to the cause!!
Macarena Madness: Monday, November 8th from 12—1:00 PM at Fairfield Way Pay only $1 to hear and dance to your favorite song!
Pasta Dinner: Wednesday, November 10th from 5—9:00 PM at Hillel Come celebrate 100 days until HuskyTHON by enjoying a delicious pasta dinner.
T-Shirt Thursday: Thursday, November 11th from 10—5:00 PM at Fairfield Way T-shirts today for people who sign up on the spot to be dancers *until supplies run out.*
Making Care Packages: Friday, November 12th from 1—3:30 PM at the Wilbur Cross Reading Room North Join us in making care packages for the kids at CCMC.
Flapjack Fundraiser: Sunday, November 14th from 8—10:00 AM at Applebee’s
Kim Ellison of Kappa Kappa Gamma Kim Ellison is truly an outstanding sorority member because she is dedicated, hard working and extremely involved. She exemplifies each of the four pillars of the Fraternity and Sorority community. Kim is a leader in Kappa and in the Greek community as the President of UNITE, running and leading discussions and meetings and overseeing all other officers. She was also the Panhellenic Delegate for Kappa for 2009 and their Assistant Membership Chair for 2010. She is an exceptional member of her sorority, embodying ideals of loyalty, class and sincerity on a daily basis. She is supportive of all of her sisters and encourages them to get involved in her chapter. She is a role model for the younger members of her chapter and a dependable friend. Kim Ellison
Monica Vaughn-Flam of Kappa Alpha Theta Monica Vaughn-Flam of Kappa Alpha Theta is a passionate and committed leader in whatever she chooses to do. On the UConn campus, she is a facilitator for Reflections Body Image Program, a volunteer for CONNPirg, and last year received certification in self defense courtesy of R.A.D. self Defense. Within Greek life, she is Vice President of Administration/Programming for UNITE and Co-Director of Service for Greek Week Management Team. Monica balances her immense involvement at UConn with her studies in the field of Psychology. Intellectually and socially ambitious, Monica is an inspirational role model for her fellow Theta sisters in every way. Monica Vaughn-Flam
Spring 2011 Involvement Fair The following is an excerpt from an article featured on UConn’s The Currents: A Newsletter for Student Organizations.
Recruitment: the Lifeblood of Your Organization By Todd C. Sullivan, Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life Student organizations have a unique opportunity – and responsibility – to renew their membership regularly. Whether your organization typically recruits several groups of new members per semester, or only considers new members once in an academic year, it is important to keep recruitment on the forefront. With over 400 registered student organizations at UConn, the sheer number can be overwhelming and leave some groups without a foothold if they’re not stalwart in their outreach. Some culturally-based fraternities and sororities eschew the use of the term “recruitment.” I’ve heard comments such as “We don’t recruit. They need to do their research and come to us.” I challenge this notion because there are many students who do not have the background knowledge or experiences to know about all of our organizations. Most of these groups are doing the right thing, but they don’t show others often enough what they are doing… Take the time to read the mission or founding principles of your organization. This can be found in your constitution or bylaws. It is important to publicize what you stand for, and have your events and marketing materials reflect that. Do the things that represent your values.
Applications for the Spring 2011 Involvement Fair are now being accepted. The application is available on the Student Activities website, or by clicking here. The deadline for submitting an application to the fair is Friday, November 12. Organizations that have not completed their SOLID requirements by 5pm on Wednesday, January 20 will NOT be given a table in the Involvement Fair. If you have any questions feel free to visit us at the Student Activities Involvement and Leadership Office, Student Union room 302 or email us at dsaSOS@uconn.edu.
Are you a service-based organization? Invite prospective members to your campus clean-up or tutoring day at a local school. Focused on a particular culture? Bring some non-members to the educational program that you are co-sponsoring with a cultural center. Too many students get confused (and rightfully so) when they are just offered pizza and wings and told about the organization, without being shown or involved in what the group is all about. Good: Telling students about your events that demonstrate your values Better: Showing a video of your members participating in those events Best: Involving prospective members in the actual events In short, when you determine what you stand for as an organization and portray those values through your actions, you can actively recruit a large quantity of high quality new members. Happy Recruiting!
Regina Sura
Regina Sura, Kappa Alpha Theta
Kayleigh MacRae, Delta Zeta
Regina Sura is a senior member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She is not only an outstanding senior, but one of the most outstanding members of her chapter. She has a quiet demeanor but is always the volunteer to help out with anything and everything. She never seeks recognition for the ample amount of time she dedicates to her chapter. As the current service chairperson, she is constantly coming up with innovative service projects and ideas for Theta. Not only is she dedicated to improving our community, but she is also dedicated to her studies. She serves as an academic mentor to new members each semester, setting a prime example of where scholarship should be in a sister’s list of priorities. Above all, Regina is a genuine person and friend. She is extremely dependable and full of integrity. She is a role model for many women in her chapter as well as the entire Greek community.
Kayleigh MacRae is an outstanding Greek senior and a natural born leader with a shining personality. Kayleigh keeps close relationships with members in her chapters and many others in the UConn community while maintaining her busy schedule. Along with being president of Delta Zeta, Kayleigh also participates in other activities such as Order of Omega, Teach for America, and serves as the Trip Director for the Community Outreach alternative spring break to New Orleans, Louisiana. While maintaining her respectable reputation, Kayleigh is also very close with her sisters and friends. She is a great listener, problem solver, and takes everything in stride. Kayleigh makes being a leader look easy by being both well respected and well liked in the UConn community.
Kayleigh MacRae
Upcoming Senior Events: Fraternity and Sorority Résumé Writing Workshop Tuesday, November 9, 2010 7-9:00 PM, CUE 320 Information and Advice Networking Wednesday, November 10, 2010 4-4:50PM, Homer Babbidge Library—Class of 1947 How to Use the Internship Website Monday, November 15, 2010 1:00-1:50pm, Homer Babbidge Library—Electronic Classroom 1 Be sure to visit the Greek Senior Website at www.greeklife.uconn.edu/seniors for many senior resources and information regarding upcoming Greek senior events. Also feel free to nominate an outstanding Greek senior for Senior Spotlight and submit your favorite senior memory.
On October 22, 2010, UConn English Professor Gina Barreca wrote an article titled “So Just How Charming Are Drooling Misogynists?” in response to a Yale Daily News editorial titled “The right kind of feminism.” Barreca addresses both the incident at Yale regarding public misogynous chanting from a fraternity as well as the editorial response to the incident by asking some of her students of their opinions on the matter. Fellow UConn Greek senior Alex Prager, a leader on campus and among his chapter, explained: “Instead of questioning our actions or the very traditions we carry on, we make these moronic decisions, apologize when we’re caught, then get angry when we realize we haven’t been forgiven. It would be easy for me to sit here and say it wouldn’t have happened in my fraternity, but the reality of the situation is, people do ignorant, hurtful things, even more so in groups who share the mentality that they are ‘cooler’ than everyone else. What it comes down to is accountability; a simple apology is meaningless. I would have first suspended the new member educator then contacted various women’s organizations on campus to see how we could help increase awareness and educate the rest of the community given our own stupid statements.” Discrimination against women is a concern that must be addressed by every fraternity and sorority on campus. Here at the University of Connecticut, there has been several instances of discrimination against women, both recently and in the past. Therefore, I challenge every member of the Greek community to speak about these issues with their chapter and to come up with initiatives to prevent such prejudice, and similar forms of ignorance, on campus and the community. Would you like your voice heard? Is there a topic of interest that you stand for and would like the Greek community to know more about? If you would like to speak about this or other related topics or simply raise your concern about something affecting the UConn community, please send me your statement at student01154@ad.uconn.edu. The best submissions will be featured on future Greek Community Newsletters!
“I am thankful for my supportive friends and family and all that they do for me. I am thankful for an awesome and exciting college experience and am looking forward to my last four semesters at UConn.” -Justin Beauchamp, 5th Semester, Beta Theta Pi “I feel that I have a lot to be thankful for, but what I am most thankful for are my family, friends, and Delta Gamma sisters. I would not be the person I am if it weren’t for them.” - Julie Davis, 7th Semester, Delta Gamma “I am grateful for the health and happiness of my friends and family. I am also extremely grateful for the friendship and support of my sisters in Kappa Kappa Gamma and for all of the wonderful memories we have shared together.” -Victoria Costello, 7th Semester, Kappa Kappa Gamma
Apply now! INTD 1820: Intro to Greek Leadership 1st & 2nd year students who have joined their fraternity/sorority since January 2010 are eligible
“I am thankful for my family and cherished friends. They make each day bright and full of happiness. Additionally, I am thankful for dark chocolate and peanut butter, as they bring just as much delight to my life.” -Greg Fink, OFSL Graduate Assistant
Happy Founder’s Day!
Delta Zeta Sorority was founded at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio on October 24th, 1902. The Gamma Beta Chapter has been at UConn for sixty-seven years, since it was founded on October 23rd, 1943. Last month, we celebrated our Founders Day by inviting alumnae and current members of the chapter to attend a Halloween-themed event held at our house on October 24th. It was a fun filled event that included decorated caramel apples and apple bobbing! Also, Happy Founder’s Day to the following organizations: Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., was founded on November 22, 1922 at Butler University. The Nu Mu Chapter was established at UConn in 1993. Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc. was founded on November 21, 1981 at Rutgers University. The Concordia Chapter was established at UConn in 1999. Both sororities will be hosting several events in the month of November in honor of their founding.
Due: Fri. Nov. 5
CONGRATULATIONS to Michael Mizrahi! Futures Quest is an emerging leaders institute sponsored by the NIC, and is a unique experience that provides new fraternity members with an experience that is broader than their own chapter. Participants will learn new skills related to ethical decision making and problem solving, conflict management, values integration, and effectively taking risks. All of this is then correlated to the pivotal role that fraternal values play in both leadership and being a fraternity man. Participants are challenged to answer the question of what does it mean to lead a fraternity and then provide the skills necessary to make that vision a reality. Mentors were chosen based upon their own leadership experiences as well as their ability to inspire and create lasting change in their own chapters and communities. Each mentor will play a significant role in the program by not only facilitating portions of the curriculum, but also by serving as a guide and role model to attendees as they begin their journey as fraternity men who will lead their organizations forward. Please join us in congratulating Michael Mizrahi from our very own UConn Alpha Epsilon Pi chapter for this prestigious experience!
Day of Silence; Quiet Your Inner Mean Girl On November 11, 2010, Olivia Hebenstreit, Stephanie Bousquet and Amanda Christos will host a day of silence for their Women Studies Activism Project to raise awareness about the negative discussion amongst women against other women. The goal of this day is to promote female empowerment and unity. These women will be tabling in the Student Union and all women are welcome to visit to sign a contract agreeing to abstain from saying anything negative or derogatory about other females. Women should refrain from engaging in negative conversation and from using gender-based insults for the entire day. Participants are asked to wear pink to show their support for sisterhood as a constant reminder to others of the day’s meaning. This day will be extremely beneficial are all are welcome to attend!
Fraternity & Sorority Life Family Weekend Reception Thank you to all who attended the Fraternity and Sorority Family Weekend Reception. The OFSL Staff thoroughly enjoyed meeting all your friends and family. The event provided a great turnout of parents, family, friends, and even potential interests in fraternity and sorority life. We can’t wait to see more next year!
Sigma Gamma Rho's “Built for Haiti” Fundraiser Monday, November 8, Student Union Street Market, All Day The Built for Haiti Fundraiser is geared toward the victims of the devastating earthquake that shook Haiti last January. Monetary donations, clothing, and books will be accepted to support the Built for Haiti Campaign. All donations will be presented at the Built for Haiti Campaign Concert on November 12, 2010 at the City College of New York.
Alpha Phi’s “Phi Pheud” Tuesday, November 9, Student Union Theatre, 7—9:00 PM A Family Feud style Game Show. Volunteers from each organization will team up with their big/little brothers/sisters to compete. $75 to play, $1 to enter. Event benefits the Alpha Phi Foundation (www.alphaphi.org/foundation).
Lambda Theta Alpha’s "The Talent Show" Wednesday, November 10, Student Union North Lobby, 4:30—9:00 PM Individuals/teams/groups will present their talent. The stage will be set up with a microphone and DJ. Each act will have four minutes to present their selected talent. Judges will determine a winner and a prize will be awarded. Only $3 per person to participate. The event benefits Journey House. More information is available at: http://www.natchaug.org/about_us.htm.
Sigma Gamma Rho's “Precious Poodle Treats” Tuesday, November 11, Student Union Street Market, 11—2:00 PM In celebration of the organization's founder's week, they will be handing out "treats" such as chocolates, candies, etc. to the UConn public. With each treat, information will be provided about our organization including history and facts about the sorority.
Zeta Psi’s “Relay for the Troops” Saturday, November 13, Fairfield Way, 3—6:00 PM A 2-mile relay throughout campus with a variety of military-related obstacles. Entry Fee is only $25 per team. Sponsored with UConn Veterans Affairs, Club Sports Running Club, National Guard. Deadline to register is 11/6/10. Event benefits UConn Veterans Affairs.
Mu Sigma Upsilon’s "A Week of Sophistication" Monday, November 8th: -“Fritura” Food Sale, with Lambda Upsilon Lambda: 12—4:30 PM. Student Union Street Market -”Study with the Mu's”: 7:00 PM—9:00 PM in Monteith 217
Tuesday, November 9th: “Multicultural Workshop”: 6:00 PM in Arjona 245 Wednesday, November 10th: “Power and Relationships Workshop”: 6:30—8:00 PM, Student Union 320
Thursday, November 11th: “Different Flavors Dinner/Phenomenal Women Recognition”: 6:00 PM, in PRLACC Program Room, where we will recognize 5 Phenomenal Women.