Omega Gazette Volume 3, Issue 4

O M E GA G A Z E T T E VOL. 3, ISSUE 4

Inside: Fraternity and Sorority Life Facts

Featuring:

• F & S Life Desk • Greek Week Recap • Upcoming Events ΚΔΧ

COUNCIL UPDATES INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL The Interfraternity Council at Wichita State has recently elected our new executive officers for the 2016 calendar year!

We are very excited to have these men committed to serving our Greek community! Our first officer transition session will take place on December 10.

President: Reid Williams Vice President: Joshua Chase Recruitment Chair: Carl Schmidt Secretary/Treasurer: James DiLollo Greek Relations Chair: Ryan Siebuhr Public Relations Chair: Dane Laughlin Service Chair: Luke Mohr

MULTICULTURAL GREEK COUNCIL This semester has been filled with many changes, but nevertheless a successful semester for the Multicultural Greek Council. As a council, we are proud and happy to have our new advisor, Chad Warrick. With his hard work and determination, he came right on board to help us find ways to continue improving ourselves as a council, and for that we, are truly appreciative and look forward to continuing working with him.

During Greek Week, we hosted our first philanthropy event. Regardless of the cold weather, it was a success and we can’t thank those enough who came out and supported us. We look forward to growing this event every fall semester.

We are always planning ahead and have

already begun working on Shock The Yard 2016. We are happy to announce that next year we will be bringing this campus tradition to campus at Koch Arena!

The Multicultural Greek Council continues to grow in numbers as well!

We are happy to welcome each and every new member into the Greek community and our council.

As the semester is coming to an end, I would like to welcome our new Executive Board, congratulate all those graduating this December and thank those of you who continue to show your love and support. I know I do not speak for just myself, but the entire Multicultural Greek Council, when I say we appreciate you all.

PANHELLENIC COUNCIL The Panhellenic Council had an outstanding fall semester and to wrap things up with council elections full of outstanding applicants really puts the cherry on top. It doesn’t take much to run the council and get the necessary reports and weekly meetings out of the way, but our council really stands out with the women who are constantly reaching for more; to make a bigger impact, to make a better community and to serve selflessly with very little recognition. The biggest accomplishment the council has put on is Formal Recruitment. However, what I really want to call attention to is the success of a smaller event, Greeks Give. Tram Ngo and Jenny Nguyen really pulled their talents together to create a couple of rotating service events for our Panhellenic and Greek community to participate in. Not only do attendees get

to give back to their community, they also get to form some new bonds by mixing and mingling with people they might not have been able to meet otherwise. Their event has been praised by many and was specifically referred to as an outstanding event at the All Greek President’s Meeting this past month.

Lastly, I just want to say thank you to the women in our community that have supported and encouraged the growth of the Panhellenic Council since I have been in office. It has been an honor serving the largest women’s organization at Wichita State and building it into a very successful council over the course of two years. To say I am simply excited to see what the incoming council accomplishes next year would be an understatement.

WyattVieux, Interfraternity Council President

Shamiece Banks, Multicultural Greek Council President

Emry Woelk, Panhellenic Council President

NEW MEMBER PRESENTATION

On November 19, Sigma Psi Zeta revealed their newest class, “The Golden Gammas” of the Alpha Theta Charter of Sigma Psi Zeta, Sorority, Inc.They would like to say thank you to all of the Greek organizations and WSU students who came out to welcome their new members. Angel “Amorisaä” Tran and

Stevie “aRsEnal” Nguyen will do great things for the campus and Greek community! They are strong, charismatic and full of new energy.The women of Sigma Psi Zeta cannot wait to see their continued growth in leadership and are so glad they chose to go Greek.

FRATERNITY & SORORITY FACTS We help others!

Greek organizations are recognized for their philanthropic work. Some Greek organizations support a national and local philanthropy.

We are leaders!

Greek women and men are involved in campus activities, are often the most visible campus leaders and the most enthusiastic at University events.

We DO NOT haze!

Hazing is illegal. WSU enforces both the state and federal laws.

member highlight

Austin Daniels is a sophomore studying finance in real estate with two minors in entrepreneurship and Spanish. Austin has been a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon for one full year, and has been very active in leadership roles within the chapter. Including Scholarship Chairman, House Manager, House Correspondent. He was previously voted as an Outstanding New Member Finalist. His favorite memories with SAE include the DeVotie Ritual Institute and the National Leadership School. Both trips gave him amazing experiences and developed his leadership and knowledge of the fraternity’s ritual. After college, Austin plans to work in commercial and residential real estate.

Austin Daniels

Sigma Alpha Epsilon

FSL DESK

FROM THE DESK OF

Fraternity & Sorority Life

Our office would first like to thank all the council and chapter officers for all of their hard work and dedication to the Fraternity and Sorority Life community at Wichita State University this past year. In addition to officers, we would also like to give a special shout out to our two fantastic student assistants, Leslie Strunk from Alpha Phi and India Brelsford from Kappa Kappa Gamma, for the work they complete to facilitate events, market the community and organize records. We would not be successful without the work they do for Fraternity and Sorority Life.

This year we have seen significant growth within our community by increasing our population by more than 150 members. As we move into 2016, recruitment and retention will continue to be a high priority for the office.

We will implement the Greek Experience, where high school seniors can attend Greek designated functions.We will also

India Belsford India is a sophomore majoring in marketing & human resource and the new Fraternity and Sorority Life Marketing Intern. She’s an active member in Kappa Kappa Gamma and Shocker Student Marketing Association. If she isn’t in class or working, you’ll find her supporting her KKG sisters and the Greek community with whatever needs done.

India is an avid adventurer and adores random coffee shops. Outside of school, you’ll find her working at Bath & Body Works or at home with her family in Oregon.

be initiating the Greek Ambassadors program. These Greek Ambassadors will be the face and recruiters of the Fraternity and Sorority Life community. This group will be selected the beginning of the spring semester and will conduct campus visits and high school events, and facilitate Fraternity and Sorority Life presentations. In addition to recruitment and retention, we are redesigning the Greek Awards and Rhatigan Standards for the 2016 calendar year to reflect the national standards headquarters requires chapters to achieve so our chapters are competitive on a national scale.

As we look to next year, we are very excited to work with the new council and chapter officers. Going back to our tagline, we hope to “Be More and Do More” in 2016. As we implement new initiatives and make some changes to the current structure, we look forward to seeing the impact it will make on our chapters, councils and individual members.

Leslie Strunk Leslie has been the Fraternity and Sorority Life Student Assistant since January 2015. Leslie is a sophomore majoring in integrated marketing communications. She is an active member of Alpha Phi and has recently been elected the 2016-2017 Vice President of Marketing.

When she’s not at her desk in Student Involvement, she enjoys spending time with family and friends. A few of Leslie’s favorite things are drinking Dr. Pepper, listening to One Direction and practicing the newest dance crazes.

BASKETBALLTICKETS WSU Men’s Basketball Student Tickets Pick-Up Dates Wednesday, December 2 | UNLV, December 9 Monday, December 7 | Utah at Intrust Bank Arena, December 12 Tuesday, December 15 | Nevada, December 22 Friday, December 18 | New Mexico State, December 28 Monday, December 28 | Drake, December 31 Monday, January 11 | Indiana State, January 17 Friday, January 15 | Bradley, January 23 Wednesday, January 20 | Loyola, January 27 Thursday, January 28 | Southern Illinois, February 3 Monday, February 8 | Northern Iowa, February 13 Thursday, February 11 | Missouri State, February 18 Friday, February 19 | Illinois State, February 27

Phi Delta Theta Phi Delta Theta has had a very busy November! The 61st Annual Spaghetti Dinner went off without a hitch and we want to thank the Greek community for coming out and supporting our chapter. This November we also attended Dodge and Dive and Delta Diner and left very full after every shift!

Finally, we would like to announce the Second Annual Clark Jackson Memorial Benefit will be held February 27 at the Museum of World Treasures. We look forward to sharing more information with chapters soon.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. This semester’s Zeta week was successful. One of the highlighted events was our Stork’s Nest Drive where we collected baby items and received a lot of donations. It is a

cooperative project of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and the March of Dimes Foundation. Stork’s Nest aims to increase the number of women receiving early and regular prenatal care in an effort to prevent cases of low birth weight, premature births and infant deaths.

CHAPTER UPDATES Sigma Alpha Epsilon Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s newly initiated class recently raised over $400 dollars in a member auction. This money will go to fund a self defense class that the new initiates will be hosting in the spring. Additionally, SAE successfully elected their new Executive Council. Bailey Bryand as President, Mathew Lawrence as Vice President,

Alejo Villegas as Treasurer, Alex Gregerson and Andrew Cruz as Recruitment Chairmen, Ben Varenhorst as New Member Educator, Jacob Funschelle as Social Chairman, Jose Esquivel as Scholarship Chairman and Guillermo Morelos as Recorder. Lastly, SAE hosted their Annual Turkey Feed Monday the 23rd of November. The gathering of faculty, staff, alumni, and undergraduates is always a great time and the evening is filled with great stories and never fails to make lasting memories.

Alpha Phi Alpha Phi hosted their 3rd Annual Red Dress Gala on November 14, with over 325 guests in attendance. They raised over $12,000 for the Alpha Phi Foundation benefiting women’s heart health and leadership initiatives. Members also enjoyed an ice skating mixer with the men of Phi Delta Theta, participating in the Sight Walk and AnchorSplash and going to the filming of Morning Joe. The Gamma Xi Chapter is excited to have elected the 2016 Executive Council and Directors. The Phis are looking forward to another great semester and wishing everyone a happy winter break!

Kappa Kappa Gamma On November 7, Kappa Kappa Gamma hosted their Second Annual Kappa Olympics to raise money for their national philanthropy, Reading is Fundamental, and their local philanthropy, The Fundamental Learning Center. Five teams participated in the various events and the two teams with the best total times in the events went on to compete for first place. The champions of the 2015 Kappa Olympics are the men of Delta Upsilon. Kappa Kappa Gamma raised over $500 with the Kappa Olympics and looks forward to seeing even more friendly faces next year.

Delta Gamma Delta Gamma would like to congratulate their sister, Amy Vuong, for being named Miss Gold, first runner-up, in the Miss Black and Gold Pageant hosted by the wonderful men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Amy made her sisters so proud that tears were shed. Way to go, Amy! On Monday, November 9, Delta Gamma initiated 32

diverse and dedicated women into their sisterhood. The chapter then celebrated the best way they know possible-by going to Applebee’s for half-priced appetizers.

The chapter also elected and transitioned the 2016-2017 chapter officers. Special congratulations to Carley Larson for being elected as Gamma Upsilon Chapter President.

Over winter break, the Delta Gammas are looking forward to relaxing with friends and family, but still making it back to campus for Shocker game days.

CHAPTER UPDATES Beta Theta Pi Our Wok ‘n’ Roll with Beta food event was a total success. We had an amazing time with everyone who showed up! Elections are coming up and we will be nominating next semester’s board soon. We are excited to start the next semester with great, new leadership!

Sigma Lambda Beta In November, Sigma Lambda Beta helped with hosting “Chasqui Manos Andinas,” a fair trade organization that works with Bolivian natives who hand make sweaters, gloves and hats from alpaca wool. Thanks to the Wichita State community we were able to raise over $4,000 to help support these people. All the proceeds will go directly to the workers to help provide fair wages, safe working

Sigma Psi Zeta Sigma Psi Zeta had a wonderful time at Chi Sigma Tau’s first “Stroll for Tomorrow” competition! We enjoyed watching the Greek community all across the mid-west

conditions, health benefits and access to education.

We were also present during the Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s Day of the Dead celebration earlier in the month where we set up a traditional shrine that honored our loved ones who have passed away.

Finally, in November we co-hosted, alongside the Hispanic American Leadership Organization, our suicide prevention vigil that was located on the RSC east patio.

Thank you for all the support. Please like our Wichita State Betas page on Facebook to keep track of our events.

compete and be united to stroll for a cause. We appreciate all those who went to the event and for the brothers of Chi Sigma Tau for hosting an amazing show. A huge shout out to our step mistresses and stroll team for putting in weeks of time and commitment. In the end, it paid off and we came home with the first place prize!

Gamma Phi Beta November was a busy month for Gamma Phi Beta. We started off with Initiation Week, a week full of different activities such as Friendsgiving and a game night with alumnae. We then celebrated our 141st year of sisterhood at our Founder’s Day celebration. After our Founder’s Day celebration, littles finally got to see who their bigs are at our big/little reveal. We finished the week off by initiating 33 wonderfully unique women into our chapter.

GREEK WEEK

greek week WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY

Each year, Fraternity and Sorority Life takes the opportunity to promote the community and bring more awareness to how the Greeks positively impact the campus and greater Wichita community. This year, chapters took part in numerous events and activities to impact the community and spread the awareness of Fraternity and Sorority Life. Greek Week was kicked-off by the Student Involvement Office, Interfraternity Council, Multicultural Greek Council and Panhellenic Council hosting an all-Greek mixer at All-Star Sports. Chapter members were able to participate in miniature golf, rides and go-carts and connect with members from other chapters.

On Tuesday, the Panhellenic Council highlighted the pillar of service by hosting Greeks Give at Delta Delta Delta. Members of the Greek community had the opportunity to create blankets, make cards for soldiers and bake cookies for the homeless within the Wichita area.

“Greeks Give was a big success! It was great to see people attend from the Panhellenic, Interfraternity and Multicultural Greek Councils and work together to support different philanthropies!” | Julie Nolte, Delta Delta Delta

As the week continued, the Multicultural Greek Council hosted their very first Walk Off Your Insecurities philanthropy event. The council adopted the Positive Pathways Program as their council philanthropy in spring 2015 and were able to have high school teens utilize the program at the walk. Although it was cold, Greeks had the opportunity to proudly display an insecurity and walk it off with fellow community members.

To cap off the week, the New Member Greek Council hosted a Capture the Flag event right outside the RSC. Teams were broken up into a mix of members from each chapter, which allowed them to strategize and work together to capture the flag from the opposing team.

Finally, throughout the entire week, the Greeks collected toys to support Toys for Tots.

Thanks to all Greeks for bringing awareness to all the Greek things we do throughout the year.

“Greeks Give was a great experience. I really enjoyed learning to make no bake cookies with my brothers and members of other Greek chapters.” | Josh Chase, Delta Upsilon

member highlight

Samantha Tran

Sigma Psi Zeta

Samantha “Sariela” Tran is one of the charters of Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority, Inc. at WSU. She currently holds the position of recruitment chair, which she has dedicated an incredible amount of time and effort into.

We chose to highlight this sister because of her continuous passion and growth over the past two years.

Not only is she an active sister, she is also in our national sorority’s “Sigma Internship Program.” This program allows her to assist our national board, grow in leadership development and unite sisters across the nation. Samantha is active in the community as well. She is the current treasurer for the Multicultural Greek Council, Ambassador for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and a member of Asian Student Conference.We greatly appreciate the work she has put in for our WSU community. She is a person of great talent, strength and passion. Her big heart speaks loudly and we will always be proud to have a sister like Samantha.

GREEK WEEK

Walk Off Your Insecurities

Capture the Flag

All Greek Mixer

“It was a great opportunity to meet up with other Greeks I don’t usually get to see. It also showed me that I should not seek out a profession in no bake cookies, my apologies to whoever ended up with the ones I made!” | Marian Crook, Alpha Phi

All Greek Mixer

UPCOMING EVENTS DECEMBER 12/1: World AIDS Day Event | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | RSC 1st Floor 12/1: Finals Frenzy: Ornament Decorating | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | RSC 1st Floor 12/2: MGC Study Hall | 5 – 8 p.m. | RSC 256 12/2: Finals Frenzy: Oxygen Bar | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | RSC 1st Floor 12/3: Finals Frenzy: Relaxation Vacation | 12 – 2 p.m. | RSC 142 12/4: Study Day | No Classes 12/4: Jail N’ Bail | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | RSC 1st Floor 12/5-12: Final Exams 12/10: Council Transitions | 9-11:30 a.m. | RSC 233 12/10: Greek Appreciation Lunch | 12 – 1 p.m. | RSC Beggs Ballroom

JANUARY 1/4: Pre-session Classes Begin 1/18: Martin Luther King Jr. Day | No Classes 1/19: Classes Resume 1/19: Meet the Greeks, Live Band Karaoke | 6 – 8 p.m. | RSC Beggs Ballroom

COUNCIL MEETINGS...

IFC

Tuesdays 5-6:30 p.m.

RSC 256

MGC

Mondays 3-4:30 p.m.

RSC 202

PC

Fridays 3-4:30 p.m.

RSC 202

NMGC

Mondays (bi-weekly) 1-2 p.m.

RSC 202