LETTERSIOWA STATE GREEK COMMUNITY April 2014

ONE MISSIONONE COMMUNITY

ONE WEEK OF TRADITION

a publication of the Greek Relations Executive Council

LETTERS 2

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GREEK WEEK CENTRAL COMMITTEEMeet the Greeks who made the week such a huge success!

MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR PAIRINGS FAVOR

GREEK WEEK SNAPSHOTS

VESPERS FASHION

THE REASON FOR PHILANTHROPY Phi Kappa Psi, Alpha Tau Omega and Kappa Alpha Theta’s philanthropies are highlighted.

GREEK LEADERSHIPA look at national conferences.

GREEK MEMBER SPOTLIGHTTim Milonas a member of Delta Lambda Phi.

CHAPTER HOUSE HISTORY A look into the past as well as the future!

GREEK ALUMNI ALLIANCEThe GAA hosted the pre-Vespers ceremony.

For the Greek community, Greek Week can be one of the busiest, most chaotic weeks of the entire year. From sporting events, plunges, Lip Sync performances, painting of banners, Olympics and so much more there is never a dull moment.

As a participant, Greek Week can be crazy but there is so much more that happens behind the scenes that make the slew of events come to life. Greek Week Central is the hidden faces that make Greek Week possible and help Iowa State maintain the week of tradition.

This group of 22 works for about six months planning and coordinating for the Greek Communities seven days of fun.

The members strip their letters for disaffiliation to make Greek Week fair and unbiased. In a week built to showcase chapter pride, this is no easy task.

Maggie Gehrls and Brent Sexton were this year’s General Co-chairs and in charge of the entire ordeal that is Greek Week. “It was an excellent experience being a Greek Week Central

GREEK WEEKCentral CommitteeGeneral Co-chair! A lot of hard work goes into making Greek Week a success and, luckily, Brent and I had a great Greek Week Central Committee to help make it all happen,” Gehrls said.

The other Greek Week central chairs include Community Service, Crew, Culinary, Fiscal, Lip Sync, Logistics, Marketing and Media, Olympics, Spirit, Sponsorship, Tournaments and Technology.

“Greek Week is a lot of fun and there is so much going on,” said Kiley Pawlak, Marketing and Media co-chair for GW Central. “It is a great opportunity to get involved more in the Greek Community!”

With the help of Greek Week Crew, Central members help bring us events, activities, photos and so much more. When GW Central reveals their Letters at the annual Vespers Award Ceremony, chapters are proud to welcome back a big part of the reason this week is such a great success!

A lot of hard work goes into making Greek

Week a success...

Kristin Peterson

THIS EDITIONof Letters Greek Week 2014

Greek Week General Co-Chairs Maggie Gehrls and Brent Sexton

GW CENTRAL COMMITTEEGW 2014 3

DIRECTORS Mikayla LaHaye & Mason Cook

CONTRIBUTORS Bethany Lozier, Brenton Marcum,

Brian Keck, Catherine Brown, Emily Koneval, Grant Albansoder, Hannah Scharpen, Jeremy Andrews,

Karli Sandos, Korrie Bysted, Kristin Peterson, Lauren Hayes, Live McLean, Michelle Goodman, Morgan Woodvine, Scott

Ramirez, Shiara Crilly

Check us out on Facebook Greek Community - Iowa State University and follow us on Twitter @ISUGreek

Online Version: http://issuu.com/lettersmagazineisuAnd a special thanks to Greek Week for the images

LETTERS 4 GW 2014 5

may the odds be ever in your

PAIRING’S FAVORKristin Peterson

The new system for choosing pairings is intended to stretch the community’s horizon and make matches a little more random and outside the box... quite literally by drawing names from a box. Instead of the usual courting method for Greek Week, chapters were drawn at random and put into pairings.

The random drawing method of pairings makes pairings form regardless of past acquaintance or based on proximity. This hopefully keeps chapters that have been together in the past from repeating pairing, therefore diversifying and fostering new Greek relationships.

As said in the Lip Sync skit, "Cyclown Alley", you never know whom you will end up paired up with but it offers the opportunity to make new friendships. “The randomized drawing system for Greek Week 2014 simplified the pairing process and put every one on an equal playing field,” said Lexi Caldwell, one of the Homecoming Co-chairs for the “No Ragrets” pairing. “It was exciting waiting at the house for our pairing to come serenade us after the drawing, especially because it was a complete surprise for the co-chairs and the women of our chapter.”

All and all, the new pairing system seemed to be a success as chapters gave fantastic performances in Lip Sync, showed off their skills in tournaments and karaoke, and made banners that beautified the Greek Community and odds are, this change is here to stay.

This year, pairings were chosen not by

charm but rather by a

little bit of luck!

Greek Week kicked off

with “Meet the Greeks!”

OLYMPICS &TOURNAMENTS

LIPSYNCGW 2014 7LETTERS 6

This year saw a rise in bowties over traditional

ties in men’s Vespers fashion.

Brightly colored heels for women and tan dress shoes to spice up a suit helped Greeks put their

best foot forward.

With the warm up in temperatures, spring

color palates returned to Greek wardrobes.

VESPERSBling made an appearance at Vespers (and we don’t just mean the Trophies). Necklaces and statement jewelry highlighted many looks this Vespers. One of the best accessories this Greek Week was character, as the whole community rose (heels and all) for a standing ovation for the Special Olympics.

Kristin Peterson

LETTERS 8 GW 2014 9

LETTERS 10 GW 2014 11

Going Greek offers many leadership opportunities. One of the opportunities chapters offer is sending their members to national leadership conferences. Many chapters hold frequent leadership conferences to benefit chapter officers and also create new leaders. These conferences are typically help every other year and for most chapters fund a certain amount of members to attend. Mackensie Noble, chapter president of Pi Beta Phi, recently attended her chapter’s leadership conference, the leadership academy. Noble was able to experience a number of workshops and discussions where she was able to meet with many of her sisters. She was able to share helpful strategies as well as learn from other chapter presidents. “The conversations were beneficial to discussing logistics that can be brought back to your own chapter,” Noble said.

Over the past summer in 2013, Ryan Van der Veen, President of Sigma Chi attended his chapter’s leadership conference, the Balfour leadership-training workshop. Van der Veen was able to share and connect with his brothers at the conference. “I wanted to go to meet brothers from all over the country as well gain leadership experience,” Van der Veen said.

Noble and Van der Veen both valued their experience of being able to meet with a large group of their respective brothers and sisters. “The feeling is indescribable, it was such an amazing atmosphere were we all had one core thing holding us together. To know that the women are from all around the country, but follow the same values, ritual, and traditions is incredible,” Noble said. “I still keep in contact with a lot of people from the small group sessions,” Van der Veen said. “We will communicate on Facebook and if one of us has a problem we are able to exchange advice on how we handle similar issues,”

Mackensie Noble (far left) with member of Pi Beta Phi at the Pi Beta Phi leadership academy.

Ryan Van der Veen (middle) as well as other members of the Greek Community attending AFLV .

LEADERSHIP:National ConferencesThis past February of 2014, Van der Veen was also selected to join the members of the Interfraternity Council , Collegiate Panhellenic Council, Multicultural Greek Council, and National Panhellenic Council to attend the Association of Leadership and Values conference (AFLV). With being able to attend multiple leadership conferences, Van der Veen described the conferences as similar, both teaching important leadership techniques but were consisted with different people. “Everyone did different things at ALFV pertaining to their position and their reason they were there, I went as a chapter president so I tailored the seminars I went to to that position,” Van der Veen said.

Noble and Van der Veen recommend that current and future leaders take the opportunity to attend their own chapter’s leadership conferences. “Go in with an open mind and be prepared to come out with a larger perspective and greater appreciation for your chapter,” Noble said. “It is so worth it, it was one of the best experiences I have had since becoming a member of Pi Beta Phi.”

“[The conference] is so worth it, it was one

of the best experiences I have had since

becoming a member of Pi Beta Phi.”

Phi Kappa Psi’s spring philanthropy, Phi Psi Sliders, took place on April 23rd at their house. They sold grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and lemonade. Additional funds were raised with a dunk tank and choose which of your favorite Phi Psi’s you wanted to soak (assuming you have a good arm).

The money raised through this event is donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Story County. Phi Kappa Psi is partnered with the local club, and their fraternity has a national partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of America. The men of Phi Kappa Psi wish to live their motto, “The great joy of serving others.” Their Philanthropy Chair, Evan Blackwell, summed up their actions by saying, “We really believe in the work that goes on at their club and want to do what we can to support their efforts. We know the money we raise goes to helping them achieve their mission of providing a safe and nurturing environment for all kids.” The fraternity believes that these events will have a lasting impact on the community for a long while to come.

Alpha Tau Omega’s philanthropy, Stickfest. is an all-you-can-eat dinner at the ATO house, serving food on sticks, such as corndogs, kebobs, and even popsicles. 100% of the money raised is donated to the ACCESS Women’s Shelter of Ames.

Alpha Tau Omega donates to ACCESS Shelter is because they understand the impact of sexual assault. In the words of Robert Nordland, “By donating money earned from Stickfest to ACCESS, my brothers and I show our support for women and men who have been physically, emotionally, and/or sexually abused because we believe that any abuse toward women and men is inappropriate and unacceptable.” The goal of Alpha Tau Omega is to do everything they can, while raising money for a good cause.

Kappa Alpha Theta’s philanthropy, Capture the Kite, was a Cap-ture the Flag tournament at the Southeast Recreation Fields on April 5th. Teams of five registered for $5 a person, competing for prizes from local businesses, like Cold Stone Creamery and Hickory Park. The money raised from the event supports CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Story County.

CASA is the national philanthropy of Kappa Alpha Theta. The organization provides representation through an advocate of children in the court system. Philanthropy Chair Hannah Darr shared that the organization decreases the likelihood of children returning to foster care, and that CASA volunteers currently represent 35% of children in the foster care system. Despite CASA being the national philanthropy of Kappa Alpha Theta, many women in the Gamma Pi chapter have a more personal connection to the organization. “We have had women do intern-ships with CASA and our former [2012] president, Jesa Pace (Wolthuizen) now works as a CASA volunteer,” Darr stated. Kappa Alpha Theta raises on average $3,000-$5,000 annually for Story County CASA, and remains to be one of the organization’s main sources of funding.

KAPPA ALPHA THETA

ALPHA TAU OMEGA

PHI KAPPA PSI

THE REASONS BEHIND

Grant Albansoder

philanthropies

“We really believe in the work that goes on at

their club and want to do what we can to support their efforts. We know

the money we raise goes to helping them achieve

their mission of providing a safe and nurturing

environment for all kids.”Evan Blackwell, Phi Kappa Psi

Mackensie Noble, Pi Beta Phi

Brian Keck

LETTERS 12

chapter house history:

Occupied by Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity from 1926 to 2003Bought by Sigma Pi in 2004

BEDROOM STYLE LIVING Single, Double, and Triple Rooms. 2 bathrooms per floor.

AMENITIES New High Efficiency Laundry Machines, Spring ‘14 Outdoor built-in charcoal grill and Propane Grill. 100% customizable rooms; paint colors, built in lofts, every room is unique to the guys who reside in them.

RECREATION Custom Fooseball table New Custom Arcade: Spring 2014 Over 300 games including Galaga, pokemon, Super Mario, Pac-man, and much more. Systems: Retro Arcade, Gameboy, N64, more. Sand Volleyball pit in the front yard.

BUILT IN 1925HOMECOMING 1952

SPRING 2014

Extra Curricular: Volunteering at Marshalltown production of Anything Goes, Halloween/ Spring Drag Show, & Indoor Gardener at Reiman Gardens.

Why you went Greek: “I felt attracted to my chapter. I never felt myself as someone who would go Greek but this is one of the few things I’m very glad I joined on campus.”

Leadership Positions:Sergeant at Arms, Pledge Educator, MGC Representative, and Greek Week Co-Chair.

Top 3 Played Songs on your iPod: 1. Broken Crown - Mumford and Sons2. San Francisco - The Mowglis3. Midnight City - M83

Favorite Greek Memory: “So far is when I was assigned Sergeant At Arms. After being initiated it seemed like a big deal to take on that responsibility right away. It made me feel like I was more involved in the chapter. Which is what I wanted to do; to get immediately involved.”

Favorite Greek Event of the year:

“Once every fall semester we have a retreat together to a lodge in Iowa. It’s something I look forward to every year.”

If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why? “Brandon Urie - He’s the singer of one of my favorite bands (Pan-ic! At The Disco)”

If you could only do one dance move the rest of your life, what would it be? “Shopping Cart! I don’t dance but it’s my favorite, so I will do that the rest of my life.”

Which pillar of the Greek Community means the most to you and why?

“To me leadership is probably the most important pillar. Without a good, structured form of leadership, even the best organizations couldn't function.”

What do you hope to accomplish by the time you graduate?

“By the time I graduate and leave Iowa State, I hope to have the credentials to land and hold a job in my field and support myself completely. Nothing big and fancy; I just want to be happy and not worry about money.”

GREEK MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Timothy Milonasof Delta Lambda Phimajoring in Horticulture

“Well I already have a job in my field of my major and I’ve only been here a semester. I feel like that’s a pretty great accomplishment in my book.”

Greatest Accomplishment at Iowa State:

Phi Delta Theta moved from it’s original residence (325 Welch) in 1998. They had resided on Welch avenue since they came to ISU in 1913. Their current residence (2035 Sunset Drive) was originally owned by sorority, Alpha Phi for several years.

Before Alpha Phi however, the building was a Mormon church constructed in 1911! During it’s original renovation in the 1990s, a baptismal pool was discovered under the floor of the great room! Evidence of the old church is still visible throughout the house. The ceilings in rooms slant due to the original church’s chapel ceiling. As well as the hallways ceilings are curved from long arching beams supporting the original chapels roof.

Currently Phi Delta Theta is currently undergoing a $1.4 million renovation of the house interior and exterior. This renovation was a two step process. The first step in summer 2013 includes a brand new study rooms and a fire sprinkler system. This summer the house is renovating the exterior. Additionally, they are adding the infamous “Greek Pillars,” a second story deck, renovated Cold-Air sleeping, new TV room and much more!

SIGMA PI

PHIDELTATHETARENOVATION

GW 2014 13

“To me leadership is the most

important pillar. Without a goos

structure from leadership, even the

best organizations couldnt

function.”

Shiara Crilly

GW 2014 15LETTERS 14

Sunday, March 30 was an eventful day for the Greek community with a Pre-Vespers ceremony and Vespers. Both events were celebrated the fraternity and sorority achievements, alumni and leadership throughout the year.

The Pre-Vespers ceremony, sponsored by Greek Alumni Alliance was held in The Café of CY Stephens prior to Vepester. All chapter Presidents, Alumni Relations Chairs, GAA members, House Corpo-ration members, Chapter Advisors, and House Directors were invited to take part in the ceremony where awards for Alumni of the Year and Grant Awards winners were announced.

ALUMNI OF THE YEAREileen Muff, Alpha Omicron Pi

GRANT AWARD WINNERS Theta Delta Chi and Alpha Omicron Pi

“The Pre-Vespers ceremony hosted by the Greek Alumni Alliance exemplified that Greek life is not just a four year involvement, but a lifetime experience,” said Jake Vanderslice VP of Recruitment for the Interfraternity Council. “Thanks to contribution of great food and com-pany, the event of Vespers was made even more memorable. It was great to see our community values lived out in the day-to-day lives of our mentors and advisors, and fraternal brothers and sisters.”

GREEK ALUMNI ALLIANCESpotlight

From left to right: Steve Jones-past President, Jeremy Davis-Secretary, Ellen Chesnut-Presi-dent, Ron Hallenbeck-Treasurer, Jami Larson-Director (Not pictured) Jon Fleming-Director

From right to left : Joseph Strub-Theta Delta Chi, Joie Le-Rette-Hutchison-Alpha Omicron Pi, Eileen Muff-Alpha Omicron Pi

Vespers was held in Stephens Auditorium where over 1,300 members of the Greek Community were in attendance to accept awards and celebrate the end of Greek Week. Executive members of all four councils: Collegiate Panhellenic Council, Interfraternity Council, National Pan-Hellen-ic Council, and Multicultural Greek Council, and Office of Greek Affairs staff presented awards to chapters and individual members. Congratulations to all winners, nominees, and participants of this year’s annual awards.

“The generous support of the Greek Alumni Alliance allows our community to contin-ually take advantage of new opportunities as we work towards future growth and development here at Iowa State,” said Micah Bockstruck-Martinez a graduate adviser in the Office of Greek Affairs.

The Greek Alumni Alliance will be ending the school year making strides by continu-ing communication with Greek alumni and look forward to a relationship with the ISU Alumni Association. GAA also looks forward to supporting the expansion of new chapters in the Greek community as well as helping fund and plan alumni board, housing and education sessions. The GAA is always working behind the scenes on resolving Greek Community issues and adding to the betterment of the commu-nity as a whole.

For more information on the Greek Alumni Alliance, please contact Pres-ident of the GAA, Ellen Chesnut at emchestnut@gmail.com.

“It was great to see our community values

lived out in the day-to-day lives of our mentors and advisors, and fraternal brothers

and sisters.”Jake Vanderslice

VP of Recruitment for IFC

Morgan Woodvine

VESpERS CEREmony RESuLTS:

OF THE YEAR

Certificate of Merit

Cardinal Circle Award

Gold Circle AwardAlpha Gamma DeltaAlpha Gamma Rho

Delta Tau DeltaSigma Phi Epsilon

Gamma Phi BetaPi Beta Phi

President’s Award

Alpha Sigma PhiAlpha Tau Omega

Beta Sigma PsiChi Omega

Phi Delta ThetaPhi Gamma Delta

Phi Kappa PsiSigma Lambda Gamma

Tau Kappa EpsilonTheta Chi

Theta Delta Chi

AcaciaAlpha Chi Omega

Alpha Delta PiAlpha Sigma KappaDelta Delta Delta

Delta ZetaFarmHouse

Gamma Rho LambdaKappa Delta

Kappa Alpha ThetaSigma Kappa

Sigma Alpha Epsilon

FRATERNAL Award of Excellence

PRESIDENT OF THE YEAR:

Mary Horton, Kappa Alpha Theta

Four Councils

Collegiate Panhellenic Coucil

Interfraternity Council PRESIDENT OF THE YEAR:

Caleb Prohaska, Tau Kappa Epsilon

PRESIDENT OF THE YEAR:

Jasmine Stovall, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

National Panhellenic Council

Multicultural Greek Council PRESIDENT OF THE YEAR:

Ariana Mora, Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc.

Best PracticesAwardsDIVERSITY:

Delta Tau Delta

RECRUITMENT:

Sigma Alpha Epsilon

RISK PREVENTION:

Kappa Alpha Theta

SCHOLARSHIP:

Delta Delta Delta

ONE COMMUNITYONE MISSIONONE wEEK Of

TradITION

2013 GREEK WOMAN OF THE

YEAR:

Elizabeth Pritchard, Sigma Kappa

2013 GREEK MAN OF THE YEAR:

Brent Sexton, Alpha Gamma Rho

LETTERSApril 2014

a publication of the Greek Relations Executive Council