2,350
edits
Changes
→Highlights of 2020:
|Image= [[File:Psi_Deuteron.jpg|200px]]
|Founded= {{start date and years ago|1883|11|24}}
|College= [httphttps://www.cornell.edu/ Cornell University]
|Location= Ithaca, NY
|Homepage= [httphttps://wwwcornell.kkgcornellkappa.comorg/index.html Psi Deuteron Homepage]|Media= [httphttps://wiki.kappakappagammakkg.org/index.php?title=Category:Psi_Deuteron Media related to Psi Deuteron Chapter]
}}
'''1,845 912 initiates (as of June 20172018)'''
'''Housing:'''
In 1990, a window with the Kappa Kappa Gamma crest was installed in the foyer, designed and constructed by alumna Debra Yelverton. In addition, the living and dining rooms were redecorated with wall paper and curtains and the basement was repainted.
The chapter participated in fall rush for the first time, recruiting five new members to compliment the 26 women pledged in the spring. New house parents, David and Debbie Passey announced the expectation of a new baby, due in April of 1998.
==A New Millennium - Highlights of 2000-2010==
Psi Deuteron has had many successes this year, and we are eager to see the changes that 2016 brings to our chapter.
==Highlights of 2020s:2017==2017 was a great year for the Psi Deuteron Chapter. This year we focused on making improvements in several areas including sisterhood and academics. We also continued to thrive in our annual philanthropy events. This year to further promote sisterhood we held severl informal events throughout the year. We had movie nights, dinners together and had our new members spend more time at the house. We also had several opportunities for our sisters to study together. We had times for academic bigs and littles to study together and coffee and bagel tabs at libraries. ==Highlights of 2019== This past calendar year our chapter made a commitment to further understand the rituals and history of Kappa Kappa Gamma. We have increased the amount of activities that support this commitment, such as song practices, while also upholding the traditions of the sorority. We have also continued traditions important within our chapter specifically, such as philanthropic involvements. We were not only engaged within our chapter, but also among the greater Cornell community. Our chapter also enjoys being involved in the local Ithaca community as well. While our campus culture is always changing, our chapter always strives to maintain the same values of Kappa Kappa Gamma. No matter what is happening on campus, our chapter is reliable in its kindness, maturity, and strength. While we all have diverse interests and backgrounds, at our core, our chapter all holds similar values and morals.
During our last Founder’s Day, our school was on break. While we could not all be together, we emphasized the importance of Kappa’s history and the day through messages to the chapter, and in person once we were all together.
==Highlights of 2020:==
Our chapter was able to conduct major events, such as initiation and recruitment, before COVID-19. Nevertheless, the pandemic impacted our chapter’s experience tremendously. Without being able to meet in person, chapters looked a lot different. Women in our chapter took to planning events virtually (we will be conducting virtual recruitment early next semester). While we were virtual, Psi Deuteron was still able to conduct some of our typical events. For instance, we held virtual fundraisers on social media for our philanthropy. Most importantly, the women of our chapter were still connected, even though we were physically separated.
In response to the events of summer 2020, our chapter examined our diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. While we took small-scale measures to address issues of equity, such as posting on social media, our chapter wanted to implement more long term, meaningful changes. Through formal and informal conversations, our chapter emphasized the importance of being an inclusive chapter. We even brought the wider Cornell community into our conversations to see what we could do better. While these conversations were difficult to have, they serve as a small step in the right direction. We will continue to have these discussions, and in the coming years, they will mobilize into more direct action. Our chapter is looking forward to trainings and other events that will make us more conscientious members of our community.
While we were apart because of COVID-19, we were still able to reflect on the importance of Kappa’s 150th anniversary. These past few years, the Psi Deuteron chapter has taken the initiative to truly value our traditions. On this anniversary, we all took the time to reflect on the significance of this day and what Kappa means to us.
During the past year our chapter has really focused on getting more organized. We worked on meeting with our advisor, Liz Wong, consistently and even had her come speak to the chapter about how both active members and the chapter council are responsible for the successes of our chapter. We were also lucky enough to have a donation of $500,000 for 10 years. This means that two women in our chapter will be able to receive a scholarship of $25,000 each, annually, in honor of Nancy Nichol McLamore. Because of COVID-19, and Cornell protocol, it was difficult to host philanthropy events, but we were able to participate in some which are detailed in our philanthropy section. Overall, we were able to keep the Psi Deuteron Chapter lively and tight knit, despite the pandemic, and worked hard to make our chapter a more inclusive, welcoming and organized place.
Cornell University supported Reading Is Fundamental during the indicated time frame, and recently switched its philanthropy focus to Mental Health Awareness. During Reading Is Fundamental, Kappa sisters at Cornell visited local elementary schools and read to students. We recognized the importance of literacy and acknowledged that our sisters could encourage young students to read, making our interactions exciting for the students. Additionally, we recognized that we may be viewed as role models to these children and that reading to them may result in motivation to learn and read on their own.