Meet Order of Omega!

Meet Order of Omega!  This prestigious group represents the top 3% of the Greek community!  In order to be a part of this admired organization, one must be a member of a Stetson Greek sorority or fraternity, have over 50 credits, maintain an overall minimum GPA of 3.4, and show dedication and involvement to the Greek community.  This past Thursday, new Fall 2012 initiates were pinned into Order of Omega.  The Executive Board of Order of Omega, shown in the picture above, includes the following: President-Dani Smith, Vice President-Alex Beckett, Treasurer-Ashley Price-Dyment, and Secretary-Joseph Burns.  Current members include:  Lauren Couturier, Derek Donahou, Kate Kartikka, Michaela Kearney, Irene Lang, Suzanne Lopez, Danielle Sanderson, Brianna Stiles, and Roger Wert.  Graduating seniors include: Kimberely Arnaldi, Christopher Dell, Courtney Kieffer, Stephani MacInnes, Katie Meltzer, Charlie Raitt, Ryan Osbourne, Stephen Schofield, Abygale Shupe, Garrett Spellacy, Amanda Steele, Rebecca True, Michael Wolodkowicz, and Lauren Dunn.   

                Last week, President, Dani Smith, went around to each chapter to recognize Greek members that made Dean’s List or Honor Roll last semester of Fall 2012.  Dani Smith said that she is proud to announce that she handed out numerous certificates recognizing those with outstanding excellence in the classroom. 

This year Order of Omega will host the Teacher Appreciation Day and also help with the Annual Spring Greek Awards Ceremony.  Interested in becoming a member of this elite organization?  Look for applications to apply in the Fall!  It is a great way to serve the Greek community on a much larger scale!

Meet GAMMA!

 

Meet GAMMA! This amazing organization serves as peer educators to Stetson’s Greek community to help inform and raise awareness to potentially risky situations that occur throughout campus organizations. All members participate in the Certified Peer Educator Training program through the Bacchus Network.  As an organization, they strive to assist the Greek system in proactive and progressive social programming that encourages moderation and personal responsibility for health and safety. 

This year GAMMA has done amazing things for the Greek community; they have increased membership from 8-10 members to 28 members! Officers are GAMMA President- Brianna Curley, Vice President- Orion Meades, Treasurer- Sam Hightower, Secretary- Joseph Burns, Membership Coordinator- Erica Lazzano, and Public Relations Coordinator- Harrison Angelis. Current members include: Janna Lord, Caitlin Hannan, Gage Reed, Veronica Hernandez, Chloe Hill, JJ Lopez, Savannah Abell, Lauren Cepero, Irene Lang, Carly Lees, Holly Meadows, Logan Gapsch, Emily Singer, Deland Willis, Victoria Hackbarth, and Deja Rivera.

In the fall semester of 2012, GAMMA hosted their National Hazing Prevention Week. During this week, GAMMA raised hazing prevention awareness by hosting a movie that was led by Rosalie Carpenter, Assistant Dean of Students, tabled in front of Stetson CUB where students signed a pledge against hazing and received pamphlets and buttons to support anti-hazing, and hosted a lunch discussion attended by Vice President Kandus and Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Involvement, Nate Burke.

Last week, GAMMA hosted a Safe Sex Week where they tabled outside of the CUB to help spread awareness of safe sex, and hosted the movie Juno that closed with a discussion by Terrance Harris, Assistant Director of Wellness and Recreation. 

Be on the look out! Next week, GAMMA will be raising awareness on how to have a FUN and SAFE Spring Break. In the future, GAMMA hopes to collaborate with multiple organizations on campus to help spread the word of GAMMA and the benefits of healthy, safe, and responsible college living.

Stetson Panhellenic and IFC go to AFLV!

Thursday, February 7^th through Sunday, February 10^th, Stetson Panhellenic and Interfraternity Council went to the Association of Fraternal Leadership and Values Conference (AFLV) in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Stetson was represented by Panhellenic President, Cayman Calabro, Vice President Risk Management, Rebecca DeJesus, Vice President Recruitment, Liz Vickers, and Interfraternity Council Risk Management, Brett Hargaden, Vice President Recruitment, Brendan Beitler, and Secretary, Kyle Lindemann.  Nate Burke, Director of Fraternity and Sorority Involvement as well as Chelsea Knott, Graduate Intern for Fraternity and Sorority Involvement were also in attendance.  There were over 2,800 Greeks spending the weekend together, sharing ideas, and growing together as leaders.  This conference had representatives from all over the eastern and central United States.

Our councils took away priceless lessons from the conference.  In particular, our council was reminded that Greek life is more than just awards and events; it is about the brotherhood and sisterhood we create; that is what we will remember 50+ years from now.  The council was also reminded that we all belong to one Greek family; therefore, what one person does can affect us all.  We are a sisterhood and brotherhood; we need to take care of one another as brothers and sisters do.  Panhellenic and IFC council also left with a new perspective of leadership.  President of the Panhellenic Council, Cayman Calabro, describes her new outlook as, “we need to remember that leaders are chosen because people believe in them and their ideas.  We, as leaders, owe those people; we are here to serve them, not to be on the top of the pyramid.  We need to flip the pyramid and realize that we are not here to make decisions for all those people, but to make actions that support their thoughts and needs.”  Calabro also said we will be applying for national awards and recognition for the first time ever next year! 

Officers that attended the conference are so excited to share with the Greek community all the amazing things they learned.  In fact, next Wednesday, February 20^th, at 6pm, the officers will be giving a presentation for collegiate chapter presidents and any other Greek member who wants to attend.  Come learn all the amazing things our officers took away from AFLV!

Greek Alumna Member Spot Light: Amne Harrington

Recent Stetson graduate, Amne Harrington, is currently living in Bowling Green, OH, where she is working towards earning a Master’s of Arts in College Student Personnel at Bowling Greek State University.  Harrington is not only taking classes, but is also working as a graduate assistant for Fraternity and Sorority Life in the Office of Campus Activities where she advises the National Pan-Hellenic Council.  She coordinates logistics for the office's leadership programs, advises the Greek Weekend Steering Committee, and oversees the Get Involved Team. She also serves as the Greek House Director for the Ohio Theta Chapter of Pi Beta Phi, where she lives in the sorority house with 36 residents and helps to advise their executive board.  Harrington hopes to find a full-time position at in institution in the southeast where she will continue to work with fraternities and sororities. 

            Harrington, originally did not intend on working with Greek life.  She had plans to go to law school or work for the FBI.  After speaking with Stetson’s campus administrators, she realized she was happiest when she was spending time with her peers and doing things on campus.  It was after Spring Greek Awards that she realized she loved everything about fraternity and sorority life and could make the biggest difference by working with future Greek leaders.  Amne claims she is where she is today due to her Stetson Greek experience, one that she says she is forever grateful for. 

            Harrington reflects on her favorite Greek memory which was her Bid Day of her senior year.  She remembers walking up to the chapel with Katie Cleveland (ZTA, VP of Recruitment) and Nate Burke, Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life.  Harrington was overwhelemd with happiness because recruitment was such a big success and because the Stetson community was gaining so many amazing women.  Harrington says, “I loved feeling like I had done something that mattered and that so many women were about to understand why being a Panhellenic woman is something so special and life-changing.” 

            Harrington would like to leave some special advice to current Stetson Greeks.  She requests that Greeks take their time to think about why they joined their organization, and why that organization even exists.  Greeks are leaders on campus and set the trend; therefore, Greeks must live through their values every day.  Harrington feels that, “the Stetson Greek community is a place to set the example for other fraternity and sorority communities, but everyone needs to commit to really being a true fraternity man and sorority woman all day, every day, before that can happen.”  Harrington encourages chapters to read their rituals at chapter and really think deeply about what it truly means.  Once you do this, you will connect to your organization on a new level, and obtain a new-found respect for the opportunity you have to be part of a longstanding and sacred tradition. 

Greek Woman of the Week!

Greek Woman of the Week!
Pi Beta Phi: Katie Meltzer

This week the Panhellenic Council would like to recognize previous Pi Beta Phi president, Katie Meltzer, as the Greek Woman of the Week.  This award is given to a woman that demonstrates achievements in scholarship, service, leadership, sisterhood, and Panhellenic efforts. 

       Meltzer has served her chapter not only as president, but also as VP Finance.  She has served the Greek community by being a Rho Gamma during recruitment and was the treasurer for Panhellenic.  Katie is described to be a servant leader because she is always looking out for the best interest of those she is leading.  Katie encourages her chapter to reach out to other sororities to create Greek unison.  During her presidency, she maintained a positive outlook and boosted her chapter morale to an all time high.    As a humble leader, she deserves to be recognized for all her hard work to her chapter and the Stetson Greek community as a whole.  Congrats, Katie!