Changes

Gamma Omega began 2020 with a highly successful formal and informal recruitment process in January. Three of our active members served as Rho Gammas during the recruitment process. The chapter welcomed 18 new members on Bid Day, and then recruited an additional 5 new members through informal recruitment in the following weeks. Bid Day 2020 was “Friends” themed, with outfits inspired by the hit TV show, and featured ice skating with the new members and actives. After recruitment, the VPO hosted our annual Leadership Day as we transitioned officers, with 5 returning council members and 14 new council members. We decided to incorporate a new council position at the start of 2020, naming Anna Mae Murphy as Gamma Omega’s first Sexual Respect Chair. The new member class was formally pledged at the beginning of February and began their EME training, which occured before chapter every Sunday. At the end of February, Denison hosted an FSL (Fraternity & Sorority Life) Leadership Retreat for all Denison Greek Presidents and Representatives with the intent of creating connections between the different Greek Councils and Chapters. The Gamma Omega President, Lily Anderson, and Panhellenic Delegate, Lillian Morrow, were in attendance. March was a very difficult month for the Gamma Omega Chapter. We planned to hold initiation on March 28th, during the week following spring break. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic reached the United States, Denison informed students that spring break would be followed by a 2-week period of remote learning with the hopes of returning to campus by April 3rd. Although the administration hoped that students would be able to return, they encouraged students to pack up their belongings in the days leading up to spring break and prepare to move home. On March 16th, Denison made the announcement that the remainder of the semester would be virtual. Because of the pivot to remote learning, the chapter’s Event Chair, Ariana Aulisi, was forced to cancel the off-campus formal that she had planned. The House Chair, Zoe Smith, and House Board President, Tina Tracy, supported members in the spring by allowing them to store some of their belongings in the Kappa House during the quick move-out. House Board was also able to move forward on renovations to the laundry room and office, as well as plan for redecoration of many rooms in the Kappa house. While at home, Gamma Omega maintained weekly council and chapter meetings over Zoom and Google Meet. Before the transition to remote learning, Stella Boeckman, the Philanthropy Chair, was planning a spring philanthropy event called Kans for Kappa, which was intended to be a food drive for Center for Hope. Following the collection, Kappa members were then planning to go to a Center for Hope location and put together activity kits for students. Additionally, Kappa was partnered with the Boys and Girls Club in Newark, where Kappa members were able to volunteer weekly. However, when the pandemic hit, Stella stepped up to the plate and created a new virtual philanthropy event. She hosted a virtual fundraiser and raffle in April, raising a total of $881 for the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s COVID-19 Response Fund to help healthcare workers, vulnerable individuals, and hygiene promotion activities. With guidance from District Specialists, the Marshal, Madison Gordon, coordinated a virtual initiation for the new member class. Madison reached out to relatives of Legacy new members and invited them to the Zoom initiation to support their daughters and nieces. On April 30, 2020, 23 of the 24 new members were successfully initiated over Zoom in a ceremony lead by Kappa Headquarters. During the month of May, the senior members of Kappa were able to read their letters to the chapter during the final two virtual chapter meetings. The 9 graduating seniors were sent stoles, small gifts, and letters from their kappa families in place of the traditional senior brunch. Additionally, Gamma Omega had three virtual pinning ceremonies following chapter meetings. Denison implemented a pass or fail option for all courses due to the stress and complications of the spring semester, which allowed for students to elect to take their courses as pass or fail rather than for a grade. This prevented the VP Academic Excellence, Talia Zeiger, from receiving grades. Although she could not make Academic Progress Plans without grade reports, she worked hard to provide support for struggling members. In place of the traditional “Finals Pizza” event, Talia sent Kappas who had received awards and scholarships handwritten letters and Kappa stickers in the mail. Over the summer, the chapter President attended the virtual Convention, and the Kappa Patter Newsletter was sent out. Denison announced plans for returning to campus, with strict guidelines placed on Greek organizations. The majority of Gamma Omega’s members returned to campus for the fall semester, with a few studying remotely from home. With the no-gathering order from the National Panhellenic Council in place, Kappa worked to recruit members through the COB process virtually, as well as to host virtual sisterhood events. The Membership Chair, Meghan Callahan, recruited two new members, and Bid Day was celebrated virtually. Gamma Omega’s VP Standards, Emily Muckle, organized virtual sisterhood events including trivia nights, a movie night, and, once restrictions were lifted, a socially distant bonfire and s’mores night. Additionally, our PR Chair, Helen Nickerson, organized an ongoing virtual yoga and workout session. VP Academic Excellence, Talia Zeiger, continued to name members “Smartie of the Week” at chapter based on kappa member nominations. In October, when some restrictions were lifted, The Marshal, Madison Gordon, began organizing ritual events including Formal Pledging and Formal Chapters in a hybrid format, with the Chapter President, Marshal, and Tech Consultant socially distant in the Kappa house and the rest of the members on Zoom. Additionally, Kappa members participated in philanthropy events for other Greek organizations at Denison, including Tri Delta Kickball and Delta Gamma’s Anchor Splash. For the first time in several years, Kappa won the Anchor Splash Dance competition. Gamma Omega’s annual philanthropy event was hosted on October 31st. In order to make the event safe, the Philanthropy Chair created a new event called Kappa Carving. This event featured a socially distant pumpkin carving competition which raised $1,643 for Reading is Fundamental and the Conscious Kid. In November, the Marshal hosted a successful I-Week, with some events in-person and some events virtual. She consulted with her Specialist and received permission to host in-person F-Side and Initiation, with limited participation and social distancing. On November 14th, Gamma Omega initiated three members with only essential members present for the ceremony. Following initiation, the new actives experienced their first formal chapter and also participated in the Behind Happy Faces program provided through Kappa HQ. The VPAE sent out care packages to those who applied for scholarships and graduate or medical school which contained a handwritten note and stuffed animal. She also hosted the “Wise Owl” event, where older actives assist younger actives with course registration, virtually. During nominations for new council, Gamma Omega decided to create a Diversity Chair position, and Destiny Gonzalez was elected in the position. Toward the end of the semester, Gamma Omega received a focus letter, indicating that chapter operations needed to be improved. The incoming and outgoing council members collaborated with the Gamma District Specialists and Gamma Omega Advisors to create an action plan in response to the focus letter. This plan was centered on improving chapter communication and operations. Many Gamma Omega members received scholarships, honors, and awards in 2020. Talia Zeiger (’21) and Madison Gordon (’21) both received scholarships from the Denison Theatre Department. Annika Kanuckel-Wolfe (’22) was inducted into Theta Alpha Phi theatre honorary, and Madison Gordon (’21) was elected President of Theta Alpha Phi. Alli Holmes (’21) was in the Top 50 Student Athlete GPA. Jessica Crabtree (’22) received a Scholarship for Excellence in English, and Sarah Wilson (’20) received an English Department Scholarship as well. Kyra Colah (’21) was named a Senior Fellow in the Communications Department, and Talia Zeiger (’21) was named a Senior Fellow in the Psychology Department. Lillian Morrow (’22) was inducted into the AED Pre-Health Honorary Society, and Lily LeVanis (’21) was inducted into Phi Alpha Theta history academic society, as well as named a Senior Fellow in the History Department. Meghan Callahan (’21) was elected Vice President of the Mortar Board, Jordan Zelvin (’21) was elected Historian of the Mortar Board, and Tori Sauve (’21) was inducted into Mortar Board.

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