Weekly Greek: Kappa Delta

Kappa Delta sorority continues to uphold their universal motto while active on Baylor’s campus. The sorority’s motto is “Ta Kala Diokomen” or “Let us strive for that which is honorable, beautiful and highest.KD is represented by colors of olive green and pearl white, and the teddy bear, nautilus shell, dagger and katydid.
Ever since being established on October 23, 1897 in Farmville, VA the ladies of KD take pride in their philanthropies. While most sororities have one philantrophy, KD has four: Prevent Child Abuse America, Girl Scouts of the USA, Orthopedic Research Awards and the Children’s Hospital of Richmond, Va.
KD host’s an all-male softball tournament and an all-female bake off ,”Shamrock,” in the spring to raise money for PCAA.  The Waco Family Abuse Center receives 80% of the money raised and the remaining 20% goes to PCAA.  Over $7.1 million has been donated to PCAA nationally since it became philanthropy.
For the Girl Scouts of the USA, KD hosts several events every semester with the Girl Scouts such as movie nights, fashion shows and National Girl’s Day.
Recently, KD had a successful event held in Waco Hall. The organization, along with the gentleman of Sigma Phi Epsilon, hosted “America’s Real-Life Hitch,” David Coleman, to campus for the Dating Doctor event.
Some famous KD’s include Georgia O’Keeffe, Ali Landry and Patricia Polito Miller (co-founder of Vera Bradley Design).

 

Corrections: The founding year was changed from 1987 to 1897.

Weekly Greek: High Flying Ladies of Kappa Alpha Theta

Sisters of Kappa Alpha Theta make their signature symbol, a kite, during 2010 formal recruitment.

Why walk when you can fly? Represented by the colors black and gold and the symbols of a kite and twin stars,the Epsilon Epsilon chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta focuses on inspiring, facilitating and supporting it’s members ambitions.

1870 is an important year for all Theta’s. At Indiana Asbury College, now known as DePauw University, Kappa Alpha Theta was established as the first Greek-letter fraternity for women.  Founder, Bettie Lock, intended for Theta to “exist to nurture each member throughout her college and alumnae experience, and to offer a lifelong opportunity for social, intellectual and moral growth as she meets the higher and broader demands of mature life.” The Epsilon Epsilon chapter continuously demonstrates Bettie Lock’s intentions.

Spiritually, Theta strives to uphold their moral code:1 Corinthians 13 (regarding the ideals of faith, hope and love) daily with their actions. The ladies honor the code by opening  every ritual or formal chapter meeting with the reading. The girls also have a weekly bible study, and participate in many volunteer opportunities like Kings Club and Ballerina Dreams.

Theta’s are actively involved in their community, especially in the lives of children. Theta’s philanthropy is Court Appointed Social Advocates, generally known as CASA. This program helps children in the foster-care system find the sense of security they need to grow and develop. Children represented by CASA are more likely to find permanent homes. To support the cause, Theta annually hosts Theta Rocks the Casa. The ladies hire caterers and a band and raise money from t-shirt sales and donations. However, this year on Oct. 6th, between 5 and 7, Theta is mixing it up by hosting a carnival at Minglewood Bowl instead of the usual Theta Rocks the Casa. There will be multiple inflatables and bounce houses, food, music, games and more- proceeds will go towards CASA. Theta is actively involved in many other social, philanthropic, and sisterhood events as well. In fact, the organization has another exciting day planned on Sept 25: the chapter will host its annual a Take-a-Date at Six Flags!

But it isn’t all play and no work with the lovely Theta ladies. Last year the 2010 pledge class had the second highest GPA!  One of the many way’s the ladies continue to support academics and sisterly bonding is by hosting study halls throughout the day. The organization also makes goal sheets and has study support for difficult classes.

Theta had been, and continues to be a productive organization. Many influential women have reaped the benefits of Theta’s mission. Notable sister’s sinclude designer Tory Burch, former first lady Laura Bush and singers Sheryl Crow and Amy Grant.

– Amy (Chi Omega) and Rachel (Kappa Alpha Theta)

Weekly Greek: Delta Delta Delta

Members of BU's Delta Delta Delta sorority pose for a picture in their 2009 Sing! costumes for their first place act, Fresh Pickins.

Delta, Delta, Delta: how can they help ya’, help ya’, help ya’? The ladies involved in the Baylor Delta Delta Delta chapter are no rookies when it comes to helping others.

The chapter annually contributes $40,000 to their philanthropy, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, to support the basic function of the hospital. To raise money for the donations TriDelta hosts several fundraising events such as, Kicks for Kids, DHOP and the Sincerely Yours letter writing campaign. The ladies are definitely making a difference with their time and effort. TriDelta nationally donated a large sum of money to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to have an entire TriDelta floor where parents and children could have connecting rooms. TriDelta also contributed to the building of a “teen room,” where teen patients can escape adults to hang out with their peers.

But there is more to the organization than just volunteering; the ladies also focus on empowering one another. Founded Thanksgiving Eve, 1888 in Boston, TriDelta has continued to uphold their motto “’AσΦαλως ‘ Ayαπωµεν ‘ Aλληλας”, meaning: “Let us steadfastly love one another.” A program created by and for TriDelta’s, “Reflection” was designed to promote self awareness and deal with issues such as low self esteem, poor body image and eating disorders.

Understanding and appreciating the value of sisterhood, TriDelta represents their sentiments with the icon of a dolphin: a symbol of rebirth, friendship and leadership. The ladies also qualify their strong bond through the pearl, pine and pansy respectively representing the new, colligate and alumnae members.

Katie Couric, Farrah Fawcet, Liz Claiborne, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Dole and Molly Sims are all famous TriDelta sisters that continue to embrace the Silver, Gold and Cerulean Blue with “steadfast love.”

– Amy (Chi Omega) and Rachel (Kappa Alpha Theta)

Weekly Greek: The BU chapter of Alpha Chi Omega

Members of Alpha Chi Omega pose in front of thier olive green and scarlet red letters during one of thier on-campus events.

Alpha Chi Omega was founded as a musical fraternity at DePauw University in Indiana in 1855.

Professor James Hamilton Howe invited seven women to form a society. 100 women founded the Baylor chapter of AXO in October 1885. Represented by the lyre and the colors olive green and scarlet red, AXO is actively involved in philanthropies that work towards reducing instances of domestic violence. At Baylor, AXO works closely with the Waco Family Abuse Center, preparing weekly dinners and hosting parties for the women and children at every major holiday during the year.

Annually, the sorority hosts a diaper drive to help alleviate the cost of supplies for the center. AXO also puts on Take Back the Night, a forum designed to raise awareness of domestic violence on college campuses and the surrounding community.

The AXO all University event this year will be a sand volleyball tournament.

Other fun annual AXO events include Paintcrush, where everyone comes together to throw paint on each other in fountain mall. In December AXO hosts Destination Unknown, an event where AXOs and their dates head somewhere unspecified, and a tacky-dress Christmas party called Guys, Ties, and Alpha Chis.

Some famous Alpha Chi Omega alums include Condoleeza Rice, Alma Gates Sanders, a former CFO of CNN, and Aubrey O’Day from Danity Kane.

– Amy (Chi Omega) and Rachel (Kappa Alpha Theta)

Weekly Greek Talks Greek Week

If you missed the Greek showcase last night in the SUB, don’t despair. Although it was a night of songs and slideshows, the rest of the week will provide ample opportunities for the interested students to interact with affiliated members. Tuesday night is movie night: Karate Kid will be screened on Fountain Mall. The movie starts a 9 p.m., so bring out some blankets enjoy an 80s classic and free refreshments.

Wednesday promises a different sort of entertainment, every Greek group will provide two coaches to coach a team of freshman in a series of games. If you didn’t get a chance to sign up at Late Night, email Jessica_OBeahon@baylor.edu with your teams of 4 or 6. Wear your tennis shoes and get pumped.

Thursday is the Traditions Rally to kick of the football season (previewed in chapel), followed closely by an Interfraternity Council Barbeque. Delta Tau Delta is hosting the Casey Donahew Band so get ready for some good tunes and fun. If you haven’t heard of them, check them out on Itunes, and come listen live anyway. Nothing beats free music, free food and free fun with several thousand of your closest friends.

Recap:

Tuesday:
Karate Kid
9 p.m.
Fountain Mall

Wednesday:
Greek Games
6-8 p.m.
BSB fields

Thursday:
Traditions rally
Fountain Mall
6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Tailgate and BBQ
7-9 p.m.

Casey Donahew Band in concert
7:30-9:30 p.m.

Weekly Greek: Getting to Know Alpha Delta Pi

Members of Baylor Alpha Delta Pi on Bid Day 2010

Weekly Greek Spotlight: Alpha Delta Pi

Founded at Wesleyan Female College in Georgia on May 15, 1851, Alpha Delta Pi was conceived by Eugenia Tucker Fitzgerald and five other women who wanted to create a society for ladies that would help to develop their values and foster active involvement within a community.

Represented by the colors of azure blue and white, ADPi strives to uphold the values of sisterhood, sorority, scholarship and self. The four ideals are essentially the pillars for ADPi, and were chosen to simultaneously correspond to the four corners of a diamond.

The diamond is commonly understood to symbolize strength and longevity because of its durability. There is a second symbol for ADPi: the lion; a symbol of strength and character.Another important facet of membership in ADPi is philanthropy.

ADPi’s national philanthropy is the Ronald McDonald House. Not only does the chapter fiscally support RMH, but they also devote time and money the chapter raises throughout the yer. Each year ADPi sponsors an event called the Pop Top Collection where the chapter gathers the tops of aluminum cans and gives them directly to the RMH housein Temple. The RMH then turns in the tops to receive money per pound of aluminum.

This fund-raising event produces a significant amount of money for the RMH because there is more aluminum in a single pop-top than in an entire can. ADPi also annually hosts Girls Fight Back, a community outreach program particularly useful for college-age girls.

An amazing learning experience for young women who will be living on their own, the clinic offers several basic moves to teach girls how to protect and defend themselves from an attacker. This semester, the self-defense clinic will be held at 7 p.m. in the Barfield Drawing Room of the SUB.

Next week’s spotlight: Alpha Chi Omega

— Rachel and Amy