Difference between revisions of "Rho Deuteron"

Rho Deuteron Chapter, Ohio Wesleyan University

Founded November 25, 1880; Closed 1884

31 initiates of closed chapter

Reinstated as Rho Deuteron on May 1, 1925

Ohio Wesleyan University established in 1842, Delaware, Ohio

1,929 members as of (June 2018)

Charter Members: Belle Jane Allen, Harriet Ella Craig, Ida Eugenia Gard, Fannie Sands Glenn, Mary Temple Lawrence, Elizabeth Pinkerton, Bessie Rees, Isabella Runkle

Deuteron Charter Members: Dorothy Rich Allen, Margaret Ketcham Anderson, Elizabeth Mary Ballard, Mary Kathryn Barnhart, Ann Kerns Booton, Augusta True Button, Kitty Cooper, Helen Louise Diehl, Martha Gertrude Dietrich, Frances Ellen Falke, Helen Hartinger, Justine Isabelle Heasley, Mary Stuart Hunt, Nila Gale Kirkpatrick, Kathryn McShane Kunkel, Louise Elizabeth Lynne, Mildred Sara Rideout, Edla Marion Scaife, Reland Schreel, Abigail Merrick Semans, Ann Newman Semans, Mary Emeline Spaulding, Ruth Leona Starr, Kathryn Agnes Thompson, Ruth Thorne

Fraternity Council Officers:

Fraternity Loyalty Award Recipients:

Marty Galleher Cox, 1986

Fraternity Alumnae Achievement Award Recipients:

Susan Harrell Black, 1980, Florida's first female federal judge

Additional Outstanding Rho Deuteron Alumnae:

The Early Years (Excerpted from The History of Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity: 1870 to 1976)

Rho's story is one of remembering, of persistence in organizing and reorganizing, and of parallel organizations which finally got together.

In 1867 a group of young ladies attending Ohio Wesleyan Female College in Delaware, Ohio, started a society called Rho Sigma. This group, the only one of its kind, was strong enough and had sufficient backing to rent a room in the old American Hotel where its meetings and dances were held. Had this group survived and founded other chapters it would have been the first Greek letter society for women, but it disappeared as two literary societies of the day grew in strength and prominence. Although not the direct forerunner of the original Rho Chapter, Rho Sigma was to play a part in the chapter's history later on.

It is not possible to accurately recount all the facts of the beginning of Rho Chapter. The accepted date of the actual establishment has long been November 25, 1880. Yet there is evidence that the chapter considered itself organized earlier than that. In the minutes of Epsilon, then Grand Chapter, it is noted that on April 23, 1880, the chapter voted to give permission "to the establishing of chapters at Oakland, California, and the Ohio Wesleyan." Also, the acceptance of an invitation to honorary membership in Rho Chapter from Lucy Webb Hayes, wife of United States President Rutherford B. Hayes, is dated December 1, 1880. Mary Lawrence Haviland's account of the story states: "When I went to Delaware they had a local chapter at Monnett Hall. Not being invited to join Delta Chi Alpha, I with the assistance of some others wrote to a chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma for information and we finally received a charter. We did not have anyone come to install the chapter, but received papers and charter - I have forgotten what chapter we wrote to. At that time my father was Comptroller of the Treasury at Washington, and I conceived the idea of asking Mrs. Hayes to become an honorary member. So we wrote, and her secretary sent us her acceptance. Anything to get ahead of the other fraternity, and we certainly created some excitement."

A page from The History of Kappa Alpha Theta also dates the advent of Kappa Kappa Gamma on the Ohio Wesleyan campus to at least fall of 1880. It reads, "All went well until the fall of 1880, when the opening of college brought an unusual number of exceptional girls. Delta Chi Alpha, having no rival, calmly deliberated before bids were given, so it was a rude awakening when one winter day the exciting news was announced that Kappa Kappa Gamma had established a chapter at Ohio Wesleyan. Forthwith the Kappa key appeared on the stylish basques of 15 of the most promising girls."

Delta Chi Alpha petitioned and became a chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta, but the two nationals were short-lived on campus for they monopolized the social life. This caused other students to threaten not to return to Wesleyan if the women's fraternities continued to exist. So the school faculty decided that no woman could belong to a secret society and both Kappa and Theta were forced to surrender their charters.

During its brief existence, Rho Chapter initiated 28 members. While these girls were in school a sub-rosa operation continued, with an initiation held even after the graduation of 1884. The Kappa convention that summer voted to withdraw Rho's charter, and the records were turned in .

For a number of years not even a local sorority existed at Wesleyan. Then in 1896 a group of eight girls who had just been graduated from Delaware High School decided to form a fraternity of their own rather than risk being separated by joining one of the two existing locals on the Wesleyan campus. The mother of Sally Humphreys, on of these girls, told them of the society to which she had belonged back in 1867 at the old Female College. The girls were intrigued with the tales and so, after thirty years, Rho Sigma came back to Ohio Wesleyan.

In the interval between old Rho Sigma and new Rho Sigma many interesting changes had taken place. The old Female College had joined the college proper, forming a coeducational institution, and many new buildings had been added to the campus. In this environment Rho Sigma flourished until in 1914 all social fraternities were voted out by the girls themselves.

Highlights of the 1920s

Eight years passed before college sentiment changed. In February of 1922, the alumnae of three former groups returned and re-established their local fraternities. Lucile Leonard LeSourd, a member of Rho Sigma, was one of the most faithful workers for faculty recognition of these groups. Due largely to her efforts, the faculty consented to permit national fraternities for women to return to campus, thus lifting the ban of 1881. Mrs. LeSourd was one of 34 Rho Sigma alumnae who were later initiated into Kappa Kappa Gamma.

Within the three years from 1923 to 1926, 19 of the 21 Panhellenic Congress Fraternities installed chapters at Ohio Wesleyan.

The Kappa Convention of 1924 gave permission for Rho Sigma to present a formal petition. The petition was submitted January 10, 1925, and notification that the charter had been granted came on February 16. Initiation was delayed until May 1, so Rho Deuteron Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma, was the 13th Panhellenic group installed at Ohio Wesleyan.

May Whiting Westermann, Sigma- Nebraska, then national president, presided at the installation, with 170 Kappas present. The 25 charter members were made conscious of their relationship to the chapter of long ago when their new charter was handed by Mrs. Westermann to Fannie Glenn, a charter member of old Rho, who then presented it to Justine Heasley (Wagner), president of the new chapter.

In the early years the home of Sallie Reed Semans, mother of two chapter members, became Rho's headquarters. But by 1927 it was necessary for the chapter to rent rooms in town for their meetings and rush parties. The Kappas moved to various apartments until 1949, when a charming old stone house on West Winter Street was purchased with a loan from the Fraternity.

Since its re-establishment Rho has been concerned with building a close, congenial chapter. Classes often met for supper in the Kappa apartments, planned a variety of social functions, and even arranged house parties at summer cottages on Lake Erie.

Highlights of the 1930s

Each decade presented different problems and challenges to the members. One of the hard problems of the thirties was the need for all sororities to retrench. The Depression affected all groups and many were forced to surrender their charters when their membership slipped dangerously low. Panhellenic proposed a strict pledge quota system, which helped some to equalize numbers. This pioneering action brought national recognition to the Ohio Wesleyan Panhellenic Council. Rho Chapter, though smaller in number as a result of the new system was able by frugal management to keep chapter dues at $5.00 per girl per month. Actives were able to save from their own limited expense money the cost of a handsome blue and blue Kappa blazer. These Kappa jackets were introduced with great pride one spring morning at chapel, when the entire chapter inaugurated this campus first.

Highlights of the 1940s

During the 1940s, as the country geared for war the campus experienced many changes. The Navy V12 program placed cadets at Wesleyan, and it became a familiar sight to see them march from their quarters in Stuyvesant Hall to classes on the main campus. Chapter life was more quiet and subdued. Rho members spent a great deal of time working with the recreational program at the Veteran's Hospital in nearby Chillicothe.

Highlights of the 1950s and 1960s

Following the war the campus experienced a construction boom as old buildings were replaced with more modern and up-to-date structures.

The chapter was growing too, and the house on West Winter Street was expanded with the aid of another loan from the Fraternity. A recreation-chapter room was added at the back of the house and the kitchen was remodeled. This beautiful addition and stunning redecorating made the house more suitable for chapter activities. Alumnae contributed funds for a wood-burning fireplace in the chapter room dedicated "in loving memory of Sallie R. Semans - a loyal Kappa."

Highlights of the 1970s

For fifty years Rho Deuteron Chapter has continued to be a vital part of the college community, winning its share of honors and distinctions. By 1970 Rho members could boast that more than 20 Kappas had served as president of the Association of Women Students; that the only two women editors of the campus newspaper, The Transcript, had been Kappas. Each year Kappas have been elected to honoraries and selected as beauty queens. One long-remembered year saw six Kappas "capped" Mortar Board - a proud moment.

Certain chapter traditions still continue. Among them are the annual Christmas party for faculty, the spring luncheon for mothers, and the "Poppa Poppa Gimmie" party on Dad's Day. Fun is combined with seriousness and Rho members continue to support the school in many ways. In 1974 Kappas participated in a telethon to alumni across the country in an effort to raise funds for the university.

It would be remiss not to mention the loyal, small band of Rho Deuteron alumnae who have served faithfully with the chapter: Sallie Reed Semans; Margaret "Skip" Leland Russell, who was membership adviser for more than 20 years; Edna Hall Russell; and Dorothy Welch May, who not only helped to furnish the house with her own possessions, but moved in as housemother on two occasions. Lola Warfel Manuel, I - DePauw, was another loyal adviser.

Even today there is a reminder of the past at the Rho Deuteron Chapter House. On the piano stands a beautiful antique doll, a replica of Lucy Webb Hayes, dressed like her counterpart in the Smithsonian in wine velvet ornamented with a tiny Kappa key. (The doll was presented to the chapter by two past presidents, Elizabeth Monaghan Volk and her daughter, Deborah Volk Cook.) She is a symbol of the past to the future of a fine chapter.

Outstanding Rho Deuteron Alumnae

Members of Rho Deuteron who have served as field secretaries are Marilyn Newman, 1953-54; and Martha Galleher Cox, 1943-46.

Martha Cox has a distinguished record of Fraternity service. She was director of chapters, 1946-48 and 1970; chairman of graduate counselors, 1948-54; extension chairman, 1945-46; ritual chairman, 1956-66; and director of philanthropies, 1966-70.

Margaret Easton Seney, currently chairman of Kappa's History Committee, was Rehabilitation Services chairman, 1956-66; assistant chairman of the Centennial Committee, 1966-70; and director of philanthropies, 1970-72.

Highlights of 2011

Rho chapter continues to value academic success. The Chapter again achieved above the Greek and campus average by tying for highest GPA among women's Greek organziations. Members of our chapter have garnered such significant awards as induction into Phi Eta Sigma, Sigma Pi Sigma, Mortor Board, and Order of Omega in addition to receipt of several grants for conducting research abroad. The sisters of Rho chapter also succeeded in the arts this year; several sisters have choreographed dances for campus shows and one sister will have a work published in a creative non-fiction anthology. Rho changed its Fall Philanthropy to benefit our local philanthropy, Kappa Kidney Kamp, from Kappa Balloon Pop to Kappa Kakes. The pancake sale was held over Ohio Wesleyan's Homecoming Weekend and provided an exciting way for the members of Rho Dueteron to demonstrate our commitment to service to our parents and everyone else who came to support Kappa Kidney Kamp. The sale was lucrative and fun and we hope to hold a similar event next year.

Campus: Ohio Wesleyan began renovations on Stuyvesant Hall to be completed in May of 2012. The university has also begun construction of a fountain to be situated in the heart of campus. The campus celebrated the Men's Soccer team's triumph at the NCAA Division III championship. Ohio Wesleyan has also begun expansion of the Greek Community by inviting Phi Gamma Delta to begin recruitment for a new chapter.

Chapter: Rho chapter remains committed to service and academics. Its members engage in outreach work in the community in addition to supporting the chapter's three philanthropies. Rho also maintained its high overall GPA by holding study tables including an all day study event at our house before the Fall semester finals. Additionally, the Standards Committee has fostered supportive and rewarding friendships by planning many exciting sisterhood events including two all chapter retreats.

The Chapter had some difficulty adjusting to the new BillHighway finance system. These difficulties were overcome by educating the members about the system and reminding them of important deadlines. Also, because of the chapter's overwhelming commitment to leadership, many sisters who were interested in leading the Chapter did not receive positions on Chapter Council for the next year. These women were encouraged to apply for positions on Panhellenic Council and to find other ways to use their skills for the betterment of our chapter.

Highlights of 2012

2012 has been another wonderful year for the women of Rho Deuteron Chapter. The Chapter has maintained a GPA of 3.49, giving them the honor of highest GPA in the Ohio Wesleyan Panhellenic Community. Many sisters accomplished various academic achievements such as recognition on the Dean's List, receiving travel-learning grants, and being awarded academic scholarships. In addition to academics, Rho Deuteron has continued to value service and community outreach.

The Chapter participated in many philanthropy events hosted by other Greek Organizations on campus as well as organized two of their own. The spring philanthropy event was Kappa Karaoke. 150 people were in attendance and all proceeds went to Reading is Fundamental. The fall philanthropy event was a pancake breakfast called Kappa Kakes. It coincided with Homecoming Weekend and the Rho Deuteron reunion so there was a lot of support from alumni as well as fellow students. 200 people attended the event and all proceeds went to our local philanthropy, Kappa Kidney Camp.

Another proud moment for the Chapter, was the "Rho-Union" that the actives hosted for which 150 Rho Deuteron alumni attended over Homecoming Weekend. There was Open House all day Saturday for all of the alumni to come see the house and old composites. Following the Open House, the alumni joined the actives in the Greek Sing competition and won first place. On Saturday Night, all of the actives and returning alumni gathered in the campus center to eat dinner together. Following the dinner in a short ceremony, 50-, 65-, and 75-year membership pins were given to alumni who had accomplished such longterm memberships for their dedication and loyalty to the fraternity.

Ohio Wesleyan finished renovations on Stuyvesant Hall in August just in time for student's to move in for the new school year. The university also completed the construction of a fountain between the Library and the Campus Center and began phase three of re-landscaping the center of campus. The administration also experienced turnover in staff. They conducted one national search to hire a new Provost and one to hire a new Vice President of Finance, Administration, and Treasurer. As a Chapter, Rho Deuteron has remained dedicated to academics and service. The Chapter has weekly study tables that members are encouraged to take advantage of as well as a full study day at the end of the semester in preparation for finals. Many members volunteer in the community in addition to participating in the Chapter's philanthropies. The sisterhood of Rho Deuteron deepens daily as members spend more time together. Relationships within the chapter are fostered in many ways including sisterhood bonding events that are put on by standards throughout the semester as well as the sisterhood retreat.

Highlights of 2013

The sisters of Rho Deuteron chapter have had quite the year. We opened up the year with formal recruitment in the spring semester, initiating 18 ladies. We then initiated 4 sisters in the fall during informal recruitment. Together, the chapter maintained diverse interests and honors on campus such as study abroad, varsity sports, leadership on student boards, etc.

Rho Deuteron continues to value sisterhood and philanthropic and community outreach. The chapter participated in numerous philanthropy events, including holding their own. Delta Gamma’s Anchor Splash proved to be a blast, with the sisters performing a routine to Macklemore’s Thrift Shop. To raise money for Reading Is Fundamental, we held our annual Kappa Karaoke, with participating fraternities and sororities serenading the audience with Kappa inspired Disney covers. This was our spring philanthropy event. In the fall we held Kappa Kakes, to raise money for Kappa Kidney Camp. Both events were a success, drawing participation from various groups on campus. Ohio Wesleyan President, Rock Jones, was in attendance at both events. The ladies had a stellar academic year.

The chapter has been recognized for highest GPA in Greek Life at OWU. In the fall, sisters teamed up with the rest of the Greek community at OWU to participate in a Greek Day of Service. The sisters love helping out. We also participated in Greek events such as Sigma Chi’s Derby Days, Greek Week and Delta Zeta’s Turtle Tug. We also played in active role in Greek Heritage Day at OWU. At the end of each semester we held a formal at Glenross Golf Club. The sisters engaged in numerous sisterhood events, including knitting, Hocus Pocus movie night, Columbus Zoo retreat and a day with sisters from Denison University.

In 2013, Ohio Wesleyan saw the re-landscaping of the central campus walkway, affectionately known as the Jay. This added additional green space to a previously sparse central campus. The start of the 2013-14 school year left the University without a Sustainability Coordinator, as the grant previously funding the position expired. This led to student protests and activism, drawing the campus together on an issue that the school cares deeply about. The chapter of Rho Deuteron continues to be a positive presence on campus. The sisters are involved with numerous other campus organizations. Diligent in their academics, study tables are reserved weekly for the sisters to use. This promotes chapter bonding in a relatable setting. The friendships in the chapter strengthen with every encounter. Sisterhood events provide time for the sisters to gather as a whole and share in the joy of each others company.

Highlights of 2014

Once again it has been an amazing year for the women of Rho chapter. We started the year off right, welcoming 13 new sisters in the spring, as well as 1 new sister during informal recruitment in the fall. The year was filled with a lot of various activities. All of our sisters are actively involved in campus life, campus leadership, and bringing a lot of success to our Chapter.

Throughout the year women of the Chapter have been recognized for various things. Several sisters have been awarded induction to Psi Chi, Gamma Sigma Alpha, Order of Omega, Phi Society, Phi Eta Sigma, Sigma Iota Rho, Mortar Board, and Omicron Delta Kappa. All of the sisters are committed to academic excellence, with more than half making deans list.

The chapter has also been very involved with philanthropic events throughout the year. In addition to holding two very successful philanthropy events of our own; we also participated in the philanthropy events of other campus Fraternities and Sororities. We participated in numerous events such as Delta Gamma’s Anchor Splash, Sigma Chi’s Derby Days, and Delta Zeta’s Turtle Tug to name a few.

In an effort to raise money for our national philanthropy, Reading is Fundamental we held our annual Kappa Karaoke event. This event was a huge success and was lots of fun too! Participating Sororities and Fraternities entertained the crowd by singing to music from the 90’s.

The chapter also held their annual fall philanthropy Kappa Kakes to raise money for their local philanthropy, Kappa Kidney Camp. This event was held during Homecoming weekend, which enabled family members and Kappa alumni to participate. Both of our philanthropic events were highly successful. The events generated considerable participation from other organizations and met or exceeded our fundraising goals.

Along with many of the other Philanthropy events, many sisters were also involved with community service. The chapter participated in Greek Day of Service and many sisters were involved with mission teams and organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters. The sisters of Rho chapter are very involved and take great pride in giving back to others.

OWU was blessed with an unprecedented $8 million dollar single donation to enable the restoration of Merrick Hall, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Merrick Hall is an academic building which has not been in use for nearly 25 years. Restoration started on May 26th, with plans to open at the beginning of next academic year. An additional $8 million was donated to transform the Pfieffer Natatorium into the Simpson-Query Fitness Center. This project broke ground in July. The Greek Community is also excited that the Fraternity FIJI will be getting a house next year. However, the renovations that are most exciting for the sisters at Rho are the renovations taking place at our own house. We have been doing numerous projects to make our house beautiful. We had the floor in our front entryway replaced, along with the stair banister. Next we plan to replace our side porch. We also added some little touches, as we got new furniture and painted some of the rooms in our house.

Our Chapter holds our weekly meetings in the Kappa Kappa Gamma house. The chapter is ownes and is a block off campus. The chapter does not live in the house. The house is used for weekly chapter meetings and sisterhood events. It also is a place where sisters go to study and hang out.

Highlights of 2015

Once again it has been an amazing year for the women of Rho chapter. We started the year off right, welcoming 13 new sisters in the spring. The year was filled with a lot of various activities. All of our sisters are actively involved in campus life, campus leadership, and bringing a lot of success to our Chapter.

Throughout the year women of the Chapter have been recognized for various things. Several sisters have been awarded induction to Psi Chi, Gamma Sigma Alpha, Order of Omega, Phi Society, Phi Eta Sigma, Sigma Iota Rho, Mortar Board, and Omicron Delta Kappa. All of the sisters are committed to academic excellence, with more than half making deans list.

The chapter has also been very involved with philanthropic events throughout the year. In addition to holding two very successful philanthropy events of our own; we also participated in the philanthropy events of other campus Fraternities and Sororities. We participated in numerous events such as Delta Gamma’s Anchor Splash, Sigma Chi’s Derby Days, and Delta Zeta’s Turtle Tug to name a few.

In an effort to raise money for our national philanthropy, Reading is Fundamental we held our annual Kappa Karaoke event. This event was a huge success and was lots of fun too! Participating Sororities and Fraternities entertained the crowd by singing to music from the 90’s.

The chapter also held their annual fall philanthropy Kappa Kakes to raise money for their local philanthropy, Kappa Kidney Camp. This event was held during Homecoming weekend, which enabled family members and Kappa alumni to participate. Both of our philanthropic events were highly successful. The events generated considerable participation from other organizations and met or exceeded our fundraising goals.

Along with many of the other Philanthropy events, many sisters were also involved with community service. The chapter participated in Greek Day of Service and many sisters were involved with mission teams and organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters. This year we also did something new to our chapter. We help a key event where we went and read to students at a local elementary and then donated books to them! The sisters of Rho chapter are very involved and take great pride in giving back to others.

OWU was blessed with an unprecedented $8 million dollar single donation to enable the restoration of Merrick Hall, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Merrick Hall is an academic building which has not been in use for nearly 25 years. Restoration started on May 26th, and opened at the beginning of the fall academic year. An additional $8 million was donated to transform the Pfieffer Natatorium into the Simpson-Query Fitness Center. This project broke ground in July and finished up in September. The Greek Community is also excited that the Fraternity FIJI moved into their new house at the beginning of this academic year. However, the renovations that are most exciting for the sisters at Rho are the renovations taking place at our own house. We have been doing numerous projects to make our house beautiful. We had the floor in our front entryway replaced, along with the stair banister. Next we plan to replace our side porch. We also added some little touches, as we got new furniture and painted some of the rooms in our house.

Chapter Philanthropy:

What organization(s) has your chapter historically/traditionally raised money for, or donated hours to, in your community? Our chapter historically and traditionally have raised money for our two philanthropies, RIF and Kappa Kidney Camp. We also every year donate our time to help different businesses in the community as well as participating with big brothers big sisters program.

Why did your chapter choose this organization(s) to support? This is our national philanthropy that we support. We also support Big Brother Big Sisters because a lot of our chapter members on our own are involved with that making it a convenient way to give back!

Highlights of 2016

2016 was yet another great year for the Rho Deuteron chapter. We participated in both spring and fall recruitment, and we welcomed 21 new sisters to their home. We continue to be involved in a wide variety of campus activities and clubs, and we have sisters in almost every major available. This diversity is something we value highly and allows us to have positive influences in many parts of the campus community.

Many of our sisters once again made it onto the Dean’s list this year thanks to our strong commitment to academic excellence. Many of us have also been inducted into various honors societies such as Psi Chi, Order of Omega, Phi Eta Sigma, Mortar board, and Omicron Delta Kappa, to name a few.

During the year we held our two annual philanthropy events, one during each semester. In the spring we organized Kappa Karaoke, where other campus organizations helped raise money for Reading Is Fundamental. In the fall, the campus community helped us raise money for Kappa Kidney Camp by eating lots of delicious breakfast food at our event Kappa Kidney Kakes. Both events were highly successful and enjoyed by the campus community. In addition to these two events, we held our second annual Key Event at a local middle school. Our sisters made bookmarks and read books with students, after which they got to keep the books. This was an event that both the children and our sisters gained a lot from.

This year we celebrated Founders Day with food and drinks that were popular in 1870, including tea and cheese biscuits. We were also able to borrow materials from the archives of Headquarters that showcased Kappa’s history, and the event was a huge success!

Our chapter holds weekly meetings in the beautiful KKG house just off campus, where sisters can go to study, cook food, or just spend time with each other. We are continuing to make upgrades to the house through our campaign Renovate Rho, and our house is looking better and better!

Highlights of 2017

For the sisters of Rho deuteron chapter, 2017 was a year of friendship, sisterhood, and growth! We participated in both spring and fall recruitment, welcoming 14 new sisters throughout the year. Our sisters continue to represent and support a diverse range of academic studies, ranging from Politics & Government, Classics, Psychology, Economics, and STEM. We are also heavily involved in on-campus clubs and activities, including groups like Active Minds, President's Club, Women in STEM, PRIDE, and SLUs (Small Living Units) like Tree House, the Peace and Justice House, and the Citizens of the World house (COW). Our sister Sarah Foster was also incredibly involved in and dedicated to the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign. 


The chapter started the year off with a successful formal recruitment, followed up by both a Galentine's Day and Luau themed open house. Our spring retreat was spent at Bare Bowl, a local pottery shop, and as the sisters painted and personalized pottery, we took a break from our studies and just relaxed. This past spring was definitely an oddity, as the chapter had two initiation ceremonies to welcome all of our sisters to their new greek home. In late April, we hosted our annual event Facultea, where sisters are able to invite professors and staff to the Kappa house for tea, snacks, and good conversation. After coming back for the fall semester, the chapter shifted energy to supporting the philanthropy events of other greek organizations on campus. This included (but wasn't limited to) Delta Delta Delta's Kicks for Kids, Delta Zeta's Turtle Trot and Fall Festival, Delta Gamma's Anchor Bowl, and Delta Tau Delta's Beach Bash. We participated in Ohio Wesleyan University's Greek Day of Service as well, serving organizations all around the Delaware community.

In terms of awards, Rho deuteron chapter received the gold award at the Greek Standards of Excellence ceremony that is held annually on campus. Members of the chapter received individual awards at the ceremony as well, including Jill Scribner's acceptance of the greek award for academic excellence. Sisters also received scholarship from Kappa as well as a number of outside sources.

Ohio Wesleyan University celebrated its 175th anniversary and homecoming this year, and at the celebration, the trustee board and president Rock Jones announced that the university's Connect Today, Create Tomorrow campaign raised over $140 million in donations. Rock also announced plans to renovate the House of Black Culture and the Branch Rickey Arena in the coming years. Ohio Wesleyan also elected its very first black female student body president this past year! Other exciting additions to the university were that of a marching band and a new student-run laundry service, participation in both the March on Washington and the March for Science, and involvement in the Ohio 5 Climate Change Coalition. 


Rho deuteron chapter has been making a name for itself in 2017 on Ohio Wesleyan's campus. The chapter really focused its attention on the creation of an incredible public relations campaign, not just including social media posts, but becoming more visibly involved on campus and showing the community who a Kappa woman can really be. Not only did this boost of energy bolster Kappa's positive image, but it allowed the Rho sisterhood to grow even closer and highlighted our positive relationships.

Our chapter has historically supported and continues to support Reading is Fundamental, the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation, and Kappa Kidney Camp. In April of this year, Rho deuteron put on our annual philanthropy event, Kappa Karaoke. The karaoke competition was open to members of all Greek organizations on campus and all proceeds were donated to RiF. We also hosted our annual event Reading is Key, where sisters visited a local elementary school and read to the children. Our chapter partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters for this event, allowing us to volunteer as a part of the Ohio Wesleyan campus community as well. Kappa was also able to provide books for the children we read to, putting RiF's message into action in the community. Finally, the sisters put on our third annual event, Kappa Kakes, this fall in the Hamilton-Williams Campus Center. Not only did this include a pancake breakfast for all attendees, we were able to write cards for the children attending Kappa Kidney Camp this upcoming summer. Sisters also raised money for the camp by creating a fun event called Cake a Kappa, where members of the community put money in jars corresponding to different sisters that they would like to see receive a cake to the face.

Rho deuteron chapter supports these organizations not only because they are our national philanthropies, but because we feel that giving back to the community (whether it be Ohio Wesleyan, Delaware, or the area at large) is one of the most important reasons why our chapter exists! It makes the sisters feel good and helps those in need in our community.

Rho deuteron chapter continues to meet in the Kappa house just off campus, where some very noticable changes have been taking place. Through the combined efforts of the house board, house chairman Cheyenne Hanson, and membership chairman Holley Hickman, the house has gained new couches, fresh paint, a professional carpet cleaning session, and a few plants along the way. The Renovate Rho project is still underway, and improvements are being made constantly!

Rho Deuteron Chapter house

Highlights of 2018

Rho Deuteron is an outgoing, activity-minded, culturally and socially aware group of sisters that fearlessly pursue their passions. OWU’s liberal arts culture helps sisters create research projects and presentations about topics from geology to museum aesthetics to accounting practices on the West Coast. We encourage strong, loyal, kindhearted friendships among our sisters, and we try to always keep our eyes on friendship, love and loyalty. Our New Member classes always immediately feel welcome and loved by the active sisters within our chapter.

Rho Deuteron 2018 with Gail Simpson Owen & Beth Black

What a great year for Rho Deuteron! This year we learned the importance of heritage and sisterhood both on our campus and beyond. We started the year with a lovely visit from former fraternity president Beth Black and new president Gail Owen in January. Then several of our sisters participated in the reinstatement of Beta Nu chapter at The Ohio State University, attending both their Formal Pledging and Initiation service. Seeing the persistence of Kappas coming together to preserve a beautiful organization left our chapter feeling inspired and proud of our Beta Nu sisters. For Founders Day, our chapter had a presentation from our Marshal about the history of Rho Deuteron itself. We loved decorating cookies together and learning about our chapter roots as Rho Sigma literary society, and as a secret local sorority when the university banned Greek Life in the early 1910s. We also had sister Justine Clark ’20 serve a term on the Panhellenic Council doing Public Relations. Since our sister Aimen Shah ’20 was the RA of OWU’s Panhellenic House residential community, we had several Panhellenic-themed events in the Fall: a cookout at the Panhellenic House with the four other houses on campus, and a holiday party with Delta Zeta.

We welcomed a NM class in both the Spring and Fall: 11 new sisters in the Spring with an “Out of this World”-themed Bid Day, and six new sisters in the Fall with a “Glow Kappa”-themed Bid Day. The chapter swept the Greek Awards this year, winning the Chapter Program of the Year Award for 2017’s Reading is Key event, the Outstanding Alumni Relations Award, Sorority Member of the Year Award (alumnae sister Cat Boyle ’18), Outstanding Sorority Scholar Award (sister Holley Hickman ’19), the Robert K. Marshall Award (alumnae and advisor Julia Hatfield ’06), the Emerging Leader Award (sister Juliana Freisen ’20), and the Tom Courtice New Member Award (alumnae sister Cheyenne Hanson ’18). Five sisters were also chosen for the prestigious Order of Omega. At Convention, we received an Honorable Mention for the Heritage Award, and we also had a sister attend Leadership Academy this fall. The house G.P.A is on a steady increase thanks to study hours and the introduction of Gamma Goals, a program where sisters make academic goals for the week and are rewarded when they accomplish so many. Three of our sisters are graduating a semester early, and several will be studying abroad in Costa Rica, Italy, and Spain next year. Our sisters spent their summers traveling, interning, and conducting research at a variety of places, from heart disease research at The Ohio State University, to planning Orientation for the OWU Class of 2022, to traveling to England to study Shakespeare or to Germany to study astronomy. Popular majors in the chapter continue to be health and science-related fields, politics and government, business fields, modern foreign languages, and psychology, though we have sisters involved in the social sciences, performing arts, humanities, and natural sciences.

Ohio Wesleyan is currently in the middle of an exciting campaign called Connect Today, Create Tomorrow. The campaign is intended to strengthen every aspect of campus life--academics, financial aid and academic scholarships, career connections and assistance, infrastructure and residence hall life, the unique OWU Connection program, and alumni relations. Fundraising is ahead of schedule, which is not just good for the university, but for our sisters. Our sisters are no stranger to utilizing the OWU Connection, and every school break we have sisters traveling as part of Travel-Learning Courses (unique out-of-classroom, on-site learning programs) and Theory-to-Practice Grants (special research grants students can use to travel almost anywhere). Our sisters also travel abroad frequently, and are recipients of academic scholarships.

Philanthropy

Reading is Fundamental; Kappa Kidney Camp; the Kappa Foundation

We support Reading is Fundamental because it is Kappa’s main philanthropy, and our sisters have a long history of involvement in academic research and enthusiasm on OWU’s campus. As for the Foundation, many of our sisters do receive or have received scholarships over the years, and honoring our history is something hugely important to Rho Deuteron. We support Kappa Kidney Camp because it is a local philanthropy run by Kappas in Columbus, Ohio for children on dialysis. We believe in both supporting the local humanitarian efforts in our surrounding community, and in giving children undergoing treatment the equal chance to “be a kid” and have a summer camp experience. Since many of our sisters want to work in the medical field, and some specifically with children, this philanthropy is particularly meaningful.

Philanthropically, Rho Deuteron also had a stellar year. Thanks to the efforts of sister Molly Geffken ’19, Philanthropy Chair during 2018, we recreated our Spring Philanthropy from Kappa Karaoke to Kappa Kapture the Flag. We raised over $6,000 for RIF with this event alone, and are so thankful to Molly’s creativity for helping us accomplish this! Our chapter also participated in events like Delta Delta Delta’s Kicks for Kids, Delta Gamma’s Anchor Splash and Anchor Bowl, Delta Zeta’s DZ Dodgeball, and Delta Tau Delta’s Beach Bash. Finally, several sisters volunteered their time to welcome the OWU Class of 2022 to campus by being Camp Oh-Wooo leaders and leading the 488 new students in team building and bonding activities before they started classes. We are blessed to be such an active chapter on such a diverse, involved, and beautiful liberal arts campus!

Highlights of 2019

It has been a fantastic year for Rho Deuteron! This year, we truly learned the meaning of sisterhood both within Kappa and within the Panhellenic community. The year started out with a visit from a Kappa alum who gifted us a framed photo of her pledge class along with the wedding knife used at her wedding! It was great for the whole chapter to see the life-long effects Kappa continues to supply to alumni. For Founders Day, our chapter did not have much of a chance to celebrate in person, as our University was on fall break, but we were able to come together as a chapter via social medias and state the importance that Kappa has had on our lives. However, during a triplet meeting with my successor, I plan to discuss sesquicentennial plans and how she can begin to plan this, and what some ideas for our celebration may be! Throughout the spring semester, our VPS, Aimen Shah ’20, held many amazing sisterhood events, such as our KKGalentines Day sisterhood event held near Valentine’s Day. Sisters were able to celebrate our love for one another through yoga, cookies, and discussions of what Kappa means to us. We also were able to hold a “Mocktails and a Movie” event with Delta Zeta. Kappa sisters visited the Delta Zeta house and drank mocktails while watching a romantic comedy movie together. It was an amazing opportunity to form more Panhellenic bonds!

We welcomed two new member classes into our chapter in 2019, one in the spring and one in the fall. In the spring, we welcomed 15 new sisters with a “Kappa Land”-themed Bid Day, and 3 new sisters in the Fall with a “Bleed Blue”-themed Bid Day. Both of these were a huge success! At the Greek Awards this year, Sorority Member of the Year Award went to our very own Aimen Shah ’20, Anna Davies ’19 won the Sorority Scholar Award, Dr. Melanie Henderson, our faculty advisor, won the Robert K. Marshall Award, and Amy Collins-Warfield, our amazing ritual advisor won the Chapter Advisor of the Year Award. Our chapter overall also won the Chapter Philanthropy Award and the Gold Category Chapter Excellence Award. Three sisters, Justine Clark ’20, Makayla Trebella ’21, and Julia Hartlage ’21 were chosen for the prestigious Order of Omega Greek Honor Society, and myself, Gabbi Roszman ’21 attended Leadership Academy this fall. Our chapter GPA currently stands at 3.3, which is above the all-women average here at Ohio Wesleyan, thanks to increased study hours held at the house and the continuation of Gamma Goals. This year, we had sisters study and volunteer in locations such as Costa Rica, Australia, London, Salamanca, Bucerías, Madrid, Moscow, and many more.

Over the summer, our sisters spent their days traveling, working, interning, and researching many different topics from How the Anti-Vaccination Movement is Influencing World Health to studying Stem Cells and Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Many of our sisters also assisted in Camp Oh-Woo, part of the orientation program at Ohio Wesleyan which allows integrative, hands-on experience for first year students. We have had sisters involved in rugby, rowing, tennis, field hockey, volleyball, and swimming. Popular majors throughout the chapter continue to be diverse, from health-related field, to politics and government, foreign languages, business and economics, philosophy, psychology, and more.

Rho Deuteron also had a great year in terms of our philanthropy! We were able to raise around $1500 for Reading is Fundamental through Kappa Kapture the Flag in the spring, along with donating over 40 books to a local elementary school! In the fall, through efforts by Natalie Huebschman ’21, Philanthropy Chair for 2019, and Lily Callander ’22, we were able to change our Fall Philanthropy from Kappa Kakes to Kappa Kraze, a 3-day philanthropy, culminating in a Family Feud style event! Our chapter was also happily able to participate in Kappa Alpha Theta’s Theta Bee, Anchor Splash and Anchor Bowl, Delta Zeta’s DZ Dodgeball, Delta Tau Delta’s Beach Bash, Sigma Phi Epsilon Water Wars, and Delta Delta Delta’s Delta Jam. We are also currently planning to send money over to the sisters in California suffering the effects of all of the wildfires in the area. Finally, as mentioned earlier, many sisters participated in Camp OhWoo as camp leaders to welcome the OWU Class of 2023 to college! Around 1200 hours were donated to community service projects this year by sisters!

Highlights of the 2020s:

Rho Deuteron, along with the rest of the world, has had a year that no one could have predicted. The outbreak of COVID-19 this past spring forced a campus-shutdown, resulting in the rise of new, digital ways to stay connected as a sisterhood, continuing into the fall semester. Keeping the feeling of sisterhood alive this year meant that Rho had to be creative; with virtual book clubs, movie nights, and sisterhood events, we refused to let a digital world stop us from being together. Rho Deuteron persevered this year in ways our chapter had never done before, under circumstances never seen before. While many normal events were cancelled or post-poned due to the limitations imposed by COVID-19, our sisterhood had a shared priority of keeping ourselves and our community safe. All of our events were held virtually this semester, including chapter meetings and our Sesquicentennial celebration. We couldn’t be more proud of how our chapter has overcome the challenges presented this past year. Prior to the campus-shutdown, in our spring semester we welcomed 14 new sisters with a “Krushin’ on Kappa” themed Bid Day! Our standards chair Maria Lagrotteria ’20 held a fun and relaxing sisterhood event with the whole chapter where sisters were able to connect and get to know the new members. This pledge class was the first in Rho Deuteron history to be initiated virtually! In our fall recruitment, we welcomed home 2 new sisters! We held a virtual Bid Day where we used Zoom to form small groups to connect with each other and get to know our new members! Throughout the semester, we held two virtual sisterhood events where we played games and hung out over Zoom. Even though they were virtual, these sisterhood events were a lot of fun! For this fall new member class, we had our first Rho Deuteron run virtual initiation and pledging ceremony. Both ceremonies were very successful despite the circumstances, thanks to help from ritual specialists and advisors. Many of our sisters were also rewarded for their academics this year! Sisters were accepted into many honor societies such as: Politics & Government, Philosophy, Theater, Mortar Board, and more, as well as Dean’s List honors. Several sisters received merit and need-based scholarships from Kappa and another sister won the Gilman International scholarship. Showing how truly KKGenius our house is, a sister was published in a scientific paper and many sisters won awards within their academic fields. Philanthropy this year was more essential than ever due to the economic hardships imposed by COVID-19. As a chapter, we used our social media platforms to raise money for both Kappa Kidney Camp and Reading is Fundamental. We also virtually held a Reading is Key event and recorded ourselves reading children’s books to be sent to a local elementary school for the students to watch. Separate from our usual philanthropic efforts, we were also able to make a donation to the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition (BTAC) in Columbus this summer. Our chapter was thankfully able to participate in other Greek organizations’ events such as Kappa Alpha Theta’s Theta Bee, Delta Delta Delta’s Movie Night, Chi Phi’s Pumpkin Carving, as well as donate to the other Greek organizations on campus. In our house, we were fortunate enough to have replaced our downstairs carpeting and plan to replace the rest of the carpeting next year. The house looks brand new and we are so thankful for our House Board’s efforts! Rho Deuteron demonstrated this year that we are able to thrive under any circumstances and we cannot wait to see what we are able to accomplish next year!

Our chapter supports Kappa Kidney camp as our chapter philanthropy as well as Reading is Fundamental and the Kappa Foundation. We chose to support Kappa Kidney camp specifically because it is local to our chapter and we appreciated the efforts of the organization. The camp provides a normal summer camp experience for children on dialysis in the Columbus area. We also support Reading is Fundamental because we recognize the importance of education and providing books to children who are without is a great way to promote education. Lastly, we support the Kappa Foundation because of its ability to provide support to sisters in need so that they are able to successfully continue on their academic journey.

In response to the changing political and social climate, Rho Deuteron this year created many diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals and initiatives. This summer, we publicly made a statement highlighting our stance against racism and the actions we planned to take as a chapter. We were also able to make a donation to the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition (BTAC) in Columbus, OH this summer. In the spring, we had the chair of the OWU Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion council come in and speak during a programming chapter on the importance of diversity. This semester we established a DEI chair position to help promote events involving DEI as well as maintaining chapter discussion around diversity. We are hoping to make more donations to cultural organizations and bring in more speakers to continue this important conversation.

For our chapter celebration of Kappa’s 150 anniversary, we held a virtual meeting where myself and the Academic Excellence chair Megha Malik ’20 shared both Kappa and Rho Deuteron’s history and then played a Kahoot game afterwards with a prize for the best score. The day of our celebration was also the day that the virtual Minnie Stewart van was visiting our chapter, so that made it even more special! In the months leading up to the Sesquicentennial, Minerva history moments were shared at chapter to increase awareness of the importance of Kappa’s longstanding history.

Wear your Letters Wednesday

Virtual Bid Day

Day after virtual Bid day with new members!

Note to Chapter Registrar: Please refer to your chapter archives including chapter meeting minutes and back issues of The Key to fill in any gaps in the above historical highlights. If your chapter archives are not complete, please research your university library, campus newspaper and yearbook archives for newsworthy information about your chapter. Please double check your work for accuracy. Contact chapter Advisory or House Board members, local Alumnae Association members, or your Province Director of Chapters for assistance.