4,269
edits
Changes
Iota
,→2012
From chapter’s History Report: Scholarship, group honors/awards, traditions, special events, changes on campus or within chapter, overall nature of the chapter, chapter goals, challenges and how they were overcome, etc.:
Highlights of 2011== This past spring, Iota held a philanthropy for Reading is Fundamental. We hosted a tea party and invited some younger grade school students to join us for a day of crafts, food and of course reading. We started the fall semester with a bang by getting the chapter involved in Greek Week events (trivia, a greek god and goddess dance and more) Alpha Chi Omega's Ring Sing fundraiser events (such as their monon bell dance). Throughout the course of the year, Iota has improved getting involved with events held by other chapters on campus as well as campus wide events. In December, KKG won the Taste of Depauw competition with a delicious Oreo ball dessert, beating out other houses on campus. Our annual Kappa Fashion show for Dress for Success was extremely successful this year--having paired with Rent the Runway and filling every single seat. In the fall, our Vice President of Academic threw a scholarship dinner that gave our professors as well as hardworking Kappas the chance to acknowledge their accomplishment. Iota also welcomed a brand new chapter council and held a chapter council retreat so the officers could get to know each other better as well as discuss ways we can improve the chapter. KKG Iota went pumpkin picking for our informal in October and went to the Sapphire Ball that the event chair organized and planned for the members. Campus: Some recent changes on campus this year occurred when there weere issues of bullying, hazing and homophobic remarks. While this created a stir around campus, the women of Iota's chapter used these incidents as an opportunity to get more involved on campus and support the LGBT community on campus by attending rallies, a debate with our college president, Brian Casey, and students on campus and participate in discussions that brought awareness to the issue. Not only did our chapter came together during these events but we also supported other organizations as well, proving that we are leaders in the Greek community. Some of our chapter's challenges included adjusting to our new house director and readjusting to living in the house and the responsibilities that follow (keeping the rooms clean, keeping noise levels down during study hours and times when girls were sleeping. Our house manager and president worked closely together to accommodate the changes that came with the new house director gracefully.While there were some major conflicting opinions-- the members of chapter council tried as best they could to keep the lines of communication open with the new house director and worked extremely hard to meet her halfway to attain a smoother transition. ==Highlights of 2012==
The 2012 spring and fall semesters provided challenges to overcome as Iota chapter. During the spring semester, Iota chapter was put on a refocus letter that made us take a deeper look upon ourselves. As a chapter we had lost track and began to experience many respect issues within and to the house, and because of this, changes needed to be made. To confine to our new expectations, as a chapter, we were no longer allowed to participate in 'flower ins'--a serenading tradition between DePauw fraternity and soroity new member classes. Through this challenge though, we collectively came up with a new plan of action and created a new tradition called "serenades" that emulates the original purpose of the tradition. The University was pleased with our new outlook and the GLC even funded money to Iota chapter to make the upcoming events a success--and if all goes well, the univeristy is planning on implementing these new events for the new member classes at DePauw in the near future.
The university has also adopted a new tiger logo. During the fall semester, which was also a celebration of DePauw's 175th anniversary, DePauw President Brian Casey announced many incredible future renovations to the campus, including the Lilly Fitness center, Roy O. West Library, Olin Biological Sciences building and the construction of a new dining hall. In terms of our chapter, the challenges brought upon us have seemed to bring us closer together. We are a chapter filled with incredible, involved, and inspiring women, and together we have been working through hurdles together.
==Highlights of 2013==
This year we hosted the Provence Meeting, which was held at the Butler Mu chapter. We got to showcase Iota history as well as historical pictures. We were awarded the Most Improved chapter overall. The event went very well and visiting the Butler Chapter was fun as we got to meet new sisters from all over the Midwest.
This year during recruitment, we got 37 news members! This was a bigger pledge class than the previous year, which we were very happy about. It has been very fun getting to know all our wonderful new members. Every year we participate in Derby Days, which is Sigma Chi’s philanthropy. Our new members competed in the dance competition and we took first place for the second year in a row.
We also made changes to some very old traditions. Instead of having Flower-ins, we know how mixers. We are working with the university to formulate the process and we have been successful thus far. We meet with each fraternity and participate in an activity such as cookie decorating or swing dancing. It has been a different but wonderful experience!
We also had a very fun formal. We went to the Indianapolis Dolphin Dome! It was a wonderful event!
In chapter council, we changed a few of our bylaws regarding attendance to insure members of chapter council and all members were held accountable for coming to meetings and chapter events. So far, these laws have been very successful.
Our campus received a $20 million grant from the state of Indiana to revamp and renew the campus. They have started more construction this year on various buildings and landmarks on campus. Specifically, all sport fields and stadium and the campus gym (Lilly Center) are being renovated. Rector Village as well as the Senior sidewalk also had construction. The administration has added signs to the campus to give it more of a campus-feel. Our school is really looking great and we are very excited to see what else they will be doing!
Our Chapter Council is doing a lot to remove us from the focus letter. The overall atmosphere of our house has changed as we are all focusing on sisterhood and the pursuit of what is womanly and true. We have taken great strides to improve our chapter as well as our image. We have definitely taken strides in the right direction and will be continuing to do so in this upcoming year.